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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. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  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 — in traffic
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. present — a gift
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. current — electric
  10. season — in sport
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. tube — the underground
  13. date — the fruit
  14. present — there
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. season — of the year
  17. present — the time now
  18. current — of water
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. tube — a container
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. safe — out of danger
  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