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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 116 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 took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. drill — a practice
  3. current — happening now
  4. current — electric
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. drill — army training
  7. staff — employees
  8. drill — the tool
  9. cue — a hint
  10. staff — a stick
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. mine — for digging
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. spell — magic
  16. current — of water
  17. cue — a signal
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. staff — employees
  21. spell — a short time
  22. cue — for pool
  23. spell — letters
  24. mine — an explosive

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