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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 124 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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. When are we going to ________________?
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. can — to be able to
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. root — the cause
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. can — a tin
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. pit — in a race
  10. bear — the animal
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. root — of a plant
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. land — to come down
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. bear — the animal
  17. land — ground
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. can — a tin
  20. current — of water
  21. pit — a hole
  22. land — a country
  23. root — of a word
  24. current — happening now

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