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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. ball — a dance
  4. squash — the sport
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. ball — a great time
  9. current — electric
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. squash — to crush
  12. deal — to handle
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. chip — for betting
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. perch — the fish
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. chip — to eat
  21. current — happening now
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. perch — for a bird

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