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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. current — happening now
  3. row — to paddle
  4. capital — a city
  5. row — a line
  6. field — a subject
  7. cue — a signal
  8. field — for sport
  9. rush — hurry
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. current — of water
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. current — electric
  16. field — farmland
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. capital — money
  21. toast — bread
  22. capital — a big letter
  23. cue — a hint
  24. toast — the most admired

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