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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 120 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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. rock — music
  4. ball — a great time
  5. chip — to eat
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. plane — a tool
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. last — to go on
  11. rock — a stone
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. current — happening now
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. snap — to click
  16. ball — a dance
  17. chip — for betting
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. current — electric
  20. last — finally
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. last — final

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