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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. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. pit — in a race
  3. current — happening now
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. current — of water
  7. last — to go on
  8. face — part of the head
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. last — finally
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. last — final
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. pit — a hole
  16. face — to point toward
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. current — electric
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. face — to confront

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