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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. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — the season
  2. spring — of water
  3. rest — what's left
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. rest — what's left
  7. current — happening now
  8. lean — to bend
  9. rest — a break
  10. sharp — clever
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. current — electric
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. spring — a coil
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. lean — thin
  22. current — of water
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. toast — bread

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