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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. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  2. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — to stop sleeping
  2. pound — a weight
  3. wake — a trail
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. board — a committee
  6. current — electric
  7. current — of water
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. current — happening now
  12. pound — to hit hard
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. pound — for dogs
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. ball — a dance
  17. rock — a stone
  18. ball — a great time
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. rock — music
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. board — to get on

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