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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. hand — help
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. pitch — completely
  8. season — of the year
  9. staff — employees
  10. can — a tin
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. current — of water
  13. current — electric
  14. staff — employees
  15. season — in sport
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. hand — in cards
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. staff — a stick
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. can — a tin
  23. can — to be able to
  24. jam — a tight spot

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