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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. current — happening now
  4. spring — a coil
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. track — a song
  7. current — of water
  8. track — to keep track
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. spring — the season
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. mug — a cup
  13. bear — the animal
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. spring — of water
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. bear — the animal
  18. pit — a hole
  19. track — a path
  20. mug — to rob
  21. current — electric
  22. perch — the fish
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. mug — a face

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