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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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. bound — tied together
  3. spell — magic
  4. spell — a short time
  5. current — happening now
  6. fine — all right
  7. can — a tin
  8. current — of water
  9. can — to be able to
  10. current — electric
  11. rest — a break
  12. bound — certain
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. pop — to visit
  15. track — to keep track
  16. spell — letters
  17. track — a path
  18. can — a tin
  19. fine — high quality
  20. pop — music
  21. bound — obliged
  22. track — a song
  23. rest — what's left
  24. pop — soda

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