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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. tear — to rip
  3. mark — a trace
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. mark — a grade
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. current — happening now
  11. current — of water
  12. shower — to wash
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. shower — rain
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. tear — from crying
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. branch — a division
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. tear — from crying
  24. mark — to pay attention

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