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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 120 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 belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. current — happening now
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. hand — in cards
  6. current — of water
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. bound — certain
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. mark — a grade
  11. bound — tied together
  12. hand — help
  13. bound — obliged
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. current — electric
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. club — for golf
  21. mark — a trace
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. club — for dancing
  24. plane — a tool

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