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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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. rush — hurry
  4. current — of water
  5. rock — music
  6. rock — a stone
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. cap — a lid
  10. scale — size or range
  11. current — happening now
  12. cap — a hat
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. current — electric
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. rest — a break
  19. rest — what's left
  20. cap — of ice
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. rest — what's left

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