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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 116 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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. current — electric
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. current — happening now
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. net — for catching
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. mine — for digging
  14. net — after costs
  15. prune — to trim
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. net — in sport
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. current — of water
  24. prune — to trim

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