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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. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. roll — a cake
  3. suit — to fit
  4. swing — music
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. rush — hurry
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. suit — clothes
  12. toast — bread
  13. swing — in golf
  14. current — happening now
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. swing — to play on
  17. current — electric
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. current — of water
  22. suit — in cards
  23. foot — a measure
  24. roll — a list

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