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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 116 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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. perch — the fish
  4. board — a committee
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. current — electric
  9. board — to get on
  10. firm — steady
  11. saw — the tool
  12. face — to confront
  13. current — happening now
  14. face — to point toward
  15. cue — a hint
  16. cue — a signal
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. firm — decided
  19. firm — a company
  20. cue — for pool
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. face — part of the head
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. saw — the tool

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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