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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  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. cabinet — ministers
  2. current — electric
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. current — of water
  7. bear — the animal
  8. squash — the sport
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. squash — to crush
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. date — the fruit
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. current — happening now
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. bear — the animal
  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