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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. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. current — happening now
  3. rock — a stone
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. foot — a measure
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. current — of water
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. current — electric
  14. board — a committee
  15. ball — a great time
  16. roll — a list
  17. ball — a dance
  18. roll — a cake
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. board — to get on
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. rock — music

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