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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. object — to protest
  3. ground — the earth
  4. firm — decided
  5. track — to keep track
  6. ground — a position
  7. track — a song
  8. firm — steady
  9. current — electric
  10. bound — obliged
  11. suit — in cards
  12. object — an aim
  13. firm — a company
  14. suit — to fit
  15. track — a path
  16. current — happening now
  17. suit — clothes
  18. bound — tied together
  19. ground — crushed
  20. field — a subject
  21. bound — certain
  22. field — for sport
  23. current — of water
  24. field — farmland

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