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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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. ground — crushed
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. current — happening now
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. suit — to fit
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. squash — the sport
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. squash — to crush
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. board — to get on
  13. sharp — clever
  14. ground — the earth
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. board — a committee
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. ground — a position
  21. suit — in cards
  22. current — electric
  23. current — of water
  24. toast — bread

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