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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. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  2. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. club — for golf
  2. wind — moving air
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. current — of water
  5. season — in sport
  6. wind — moving air
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. club — a group
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. club — for dancing
  15. rush — hurry
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. current — happening now
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. season — of the year
  23. wind — to turn a key
  24. current — electric

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