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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. file — a line of people
  7. current — electric
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. sharp — clever
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. lean — thin
  14. file — a tool
  15. lean — to bend
  16. file — a document
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. current — of water
  20. board — to get on
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. board — a committee
  23. current — happening now
  24. ruler — for measuring

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