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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  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. current — of water
  2. can — a tin
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. foot — a measure
  5. row — a line
  6. bore — to tire
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. rash — a series
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. straw — a straw man
  11. rash — hasty
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. can — a tin
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. current — electric
  16. bore — to drill
  17. row — to paddle
  18. can — to be able to
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. current — happening now
  22. straw — to clutch at straws
  23. row — a quarrel
  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