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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. wake — a trail
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. sharp — clever
  7. current — electric
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. straw — to clutch at straws
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. rush — hurry
  14. current — happening now
  15. straw — a straw man
  16. current — of water
  17. season — of the year
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. deal — to handle
  24. straw — dry grass

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