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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. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. track — a path
  5. press — a publisher
  6. root — the cause
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. track — a song
  9. bore — to tire
  10. track — to keep track
  11. pop — to visit
  12. pop — soda
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. press — to push
  15. root — of a plant
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. current — happening now
  18. pop — music
  19. roll — a list
  20. root — of a word
  21. press — newspapers
  22. roll — a cake
  23. bore — to drill
  24. current — of water

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