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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. He was locked up in a ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. cell — in biology
  7. sharp — clever
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. cell — a phone
  13. current — electric
  14. current — of water
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. prune — to trim
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. mug — a face
  19. mug — to rob
  20. prune — to trim
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. cell — in a prison
  23. mug — a cup
  24. sharp — exactly

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