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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. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. race — the arms race
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. staff — a stick
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. staff — employees
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. can — a tin
  9. prune — to trim
  10. current — of water
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. can — a tin
  14. race — humankind
  15. board — a committee
  16. staff — employees
  17. can — to be able to
  18. prune — to trim
  19. current — happening now
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. race — a contest
  23. current — electric
  24. board — to get on

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