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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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. rest — what's left
  3. current — of water
  4. track — a path
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. spring — the season
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. chair — to sit on
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. board — to get on
  12. current — happening now
  13. chair — a leader
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. rest — a break
  16. track — a song
  17. track — to keep track
  18. chair — a professorship
  19. wax — to grow
  20. board — a committee
  21. current — electric
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. spring — a coil
  24. spring — of water

Multiple-meaning words list

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

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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