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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 120 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. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. current — of water
  4. suit — to fit
  5. current — electric
  6. current — happening now
  7. suit — in cards
  8. suit — clothes
  9. spell — a short time
  10. bound — certain
  11. track — a path
  12. spell — magic
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. spell — letters
  16. tube — the underground
  17. bound — tied together
  18. track — to keep track
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. bound — obliged
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. track — a song

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