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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  8. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  21. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. current — of water
  3. mug — a cup
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. current — happening now
  6. bank — for money
  7. march — the month
  8. degree — temperature
  9. current — electric
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. plane — a tool
  13. season — in sport
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. mug — to rob
  17. bank — for money
  18. march — music
  19. march — the month
  20. degree — from a university
  21. degree — an amount
  22. bank — of a river
  23. toast — bread
  24. season — of the year

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