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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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. present — the time now
  3. can — a tin
  4. stand — to bear
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. firm — steady
  7. current — electric
  8. current — of water
  9. can — to be able to
  10. present — there
  11. rock — a stone
  12. firm — a company
  13. rash — a series
  14. rash — hasty
  15. firm — decided
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. can — a tin
  18. current — happening now
  19. present — a gift
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. bore — to tire
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. bore — to drill

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