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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. tube — a container
  4. file — a line of people
  5. chest — of your body
  6. current — of water
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. file — a tool
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. rock — music
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. current — electric
  14. pass — a permit
  15. file — a document
  16. deal — to handle
  17. chest — a box
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. current — happening now
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. chest — of your body
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. tube — the underground

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