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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. current — of water
  3. track — to keep track
  4. rock — a stone
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. row — a line
  10. row — to paddle
  11. charge — in control
  12. current — electric
  13. current — happening now
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. charge — a price
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. track — a song
  18. track — a path
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. charge — electricity
  24. rock — music

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