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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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. current — happening now
  3. current — electric
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. can — to be able to
  6. bore — to tire
  7. current — of water
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. face — part of the head
  11. bore — to drill
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. can — a tin
  14. rash — hasty
  15. face — to confront
  16. mate — to breed
  17. can — a tin
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. rash — a series
  21. face — to point toward
  22. mate — a partner
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. dip — to sink

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