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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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. squash — the sport
  4. squash — to crush
  5. fine — all right
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. current — electric
  8. mine — for digging
  9. pop — soda
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. track — a path
  12. rash — a series
  13. current — happening now
  14. track — a song
  15. fine — high quality
  16. current — of water
  17. pop — to visit
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. track — to keep track
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. rash — hasty
  23. pop — music
  24. mine — belonging to me

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