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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. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. current — electric
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. deal — to handle
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. current — of water
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. current — happening now
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. wake — a trail
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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