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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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. clip — for paper
  4. current — electric
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. mug — to rob
  8. current — of water
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. mug — a cup
  11. clip — to cut
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. mug — a face
  15. bore — to tire
  16. rest — a break
  17. rest — what's left
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. object — to protest
  20. current — happening now
  21. bore — to drill
  22. object — a thing
  23. rest — what's left
  24. clip — a video

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