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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. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a music group
  2. wake — a trail
  3. current — electric
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. mug — to rob
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. current — of water
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. mug — a face
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. band — a ring
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. current — happening now
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. sharp — clever
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. mug — a cup

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