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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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  8. I'll be taking the ________________.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. He was locked up in a ________________.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  24. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. cell — a phone
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. cell — in biology
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. pit — in a race
  7. rule — government
  8. tube — the underground
  9. fine — high quality
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. cell — in a prison
  12. pit — a hole
  13. fine — all right
  14. current — happening now
  15. current — of water
  16. tube — a container
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. current — electric
  19. present — there
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. present — a gift
  23. rule — a law
  24. rule — to rule out

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