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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 not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. There's no middle ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. lean — thin
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. wound — an injury
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. ground — a position
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. lean — to bend
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. pop — music
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. ground — the earth
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. pop — to visit
  19. pop — soda
  20. ground — crushed
  21. current — happening now
  22. rush — hurry
  23. current — of water
  24. current — electric

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