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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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. mug — a face
  3. mug — to rob
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. mug — a cup
  7. staff — employees
  8. wake — a trail
  9. present — the time now
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. current — electric
  12. present — there
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. current — of water
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. branch — a division
  19. current — happening now
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. present — a gift
  22. staff — a stick
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. ruler — for measuring

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