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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. saw — the tool
  4. current — electric
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. can — a tin
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. rash — a series
  10. current — happening now
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. saw — the tool
  13. cap — a hat
  14. plane — a tool
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. pass — a permit
  19. current — of water
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. cap — of ice
  22. can — to be able to
  23. cap — a lid
  24. rash — hasty

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