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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 band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. current — of water
  3. current — electric
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. roll — a list
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. march — the month
  8. foot — a measure
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. march — the month
  12. current — happening now
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. can — a tin
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. can — a tin
  19. pitch — completely
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. roll — a cake
  23. can — to be able to
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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