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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. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. current — electric
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. ball — a dance
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. ball — a great time
  7. current — happening now
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. board — to get on
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. club — a group
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. foot — a measure
  18. current — of water
  19. board — a committee
  20. club — for dancing
  21. club — for golf
  22. branch — a division
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. rush — hurry

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