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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. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. spell — a short time
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. current — happening now
  6. current — of water
  7. ball — a dance
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. current — electric
  10. toast — bread
  11. spell — letters
  12. mark — a grade
  13. spell — magic
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. ball — a great time
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bulb — for light
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. mark — a trace
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. bulb — of a plant

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