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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. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. The flowers bloom in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. fork — in a road
  3. current — electric
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. suit — to fit
  7. board — to get on
  8. suit — in cards
  9. rush — hurry
  10. current — of water
  11. fork — a garden tool
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. suit — clothes
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. current — happening now
  16. spring — of water
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. wax — to grow
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. board — a committee
  24. spring — the season

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