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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. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. hand — in cards
  3. mate — to breed
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — to be able to
  6. mate — a partner
  7. current — electric
  8. can — a tin
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. current — happening now
  15. face — part of the head
  16. face — to confront
  17. mark — a trace
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. face — to point toward
  20. current — of water
  21. mark — a grade
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. mate — a friend
  24. hand — help

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