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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 120 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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. rest — what's left
  3. can — a tin
  4. snap — to click
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. rest — a break
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. rest — what's left
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. current — happening now
  13. sharp — clever
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. current — electric
  16. current — of water
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. can — a tin
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. temple — a place of worship

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