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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. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. He was locked up in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — a phone
  2. current — happening now
  3. tube — a container
  4. current — electric
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. stand — to bear
  8. staff — a stick
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. staff — employees
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. roll — a cake
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. staff — employees
  19. current — of water
  20. roll — a list
  21. tube — the underground
  22. cell — in biology
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. cell — in a prison

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