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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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. current — happening now
  3. face — to point toward
  4. face — part of the head
  5. fine — high quality
  6. face — to confront
  7. current — of water
  8. bulb — for light
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. wake — a trail
  11. net — for catching
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. bulb — for light
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. net — after costs
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. roll — a list
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. fine — all right
  20. roll — a cake
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. net — in sport
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. current — electric

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