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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. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. current — of water
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. current — electric
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. scale — size or range
  8. track — to keep track
  9. drill — army training
  10. drill — the tool
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. wound — an injury
  13. object — an aim
  14. scale — in music
  15. track — a song
  16. wound — an injury
  17. object — to protest
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. rock — a stone
  20. current — happening now
  21. pass — a permit
  22. track — a path
  23. rock — music
  24. object — a thing

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