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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. ball — a great time
  3. track — a path
  4. rash — hasty
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. ball — a dance
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. current — happening now
  9. stem — of a plant
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. track — a song
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. track — to keep track
  19. stem — to come from
  20. current — electric
  21. current — of water
  22. rash — a series
  23. deal — to handle
  24. ball — a round shape

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com