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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. board — to get on
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. board — a committee
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. tube — a container
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. rash — hasty
  12. squash — the sport
  13. tube — the underground
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. squash — to crush
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. current — happening now
  18. current — electric
  19. current — of water
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. saw — the tool
  24. rash — a series

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