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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 124 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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. current — electric
  3. current — of water
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. current — happening now
  9. fine — high quality
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. staff — employees
  13. staff — employees
  14. lie — to recline
  15. fine — all right
  16. staff — a stick
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. straw — to clutch at straws
  19. game — a match
  20. pit — a hole
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. rush — hurry
  23. game — wild animals
  24. straw — dry grass

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