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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 116 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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  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. suit — in cards
  2. track — a song
  3. track — a path
  4. rock — a stone
  5. can — a tin
  6. game — wild animals
  7. object — to protest
  8. current — happening now
  9. can — to be able to
  10. tube — the underground
  11. current — electric
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. track — to keep track
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. suit — to fit
  16. suit — clothes
  17. current — of water
  18. can — a tin
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. object — a thing
  21. object — an aim
  22. tube — a container
  23. game — a match
  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