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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. This looks like a gunshot ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. squash — the sport
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. mug — to rob
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. mug — a face
  10. squash — to crush
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. mug — a cup
  13. saw — the tool
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. current — of water
  17. stand — to bear
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. saw — the tool
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. wound — an injury
  23. current — happening now
  24. wound — an injury

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