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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 120 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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  9. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. scale — in music
  6. mug — to rob
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. capital — money
  9. capital — a big letter
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. capital — a city
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. scale — size or range
  15. current — of water
  16. mug — a cup
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. season — in sport
  19. current — electric
  20. stand — to bear
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. plane — a tool
  23. season — of the year
  24. mug — a face

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