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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. game — wild animals
  4. current — happening now
  5. wind — to turn a key
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. firm — decided
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. rock — a stone
  12. mug — a cup
  13. current — of water
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. mug — a face
  16. wind — moving air
  17. firm — a company
  18. current — electric
  19. game — a match
  20. rock — music
  21. firm — steady
  22. wind — moving air
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. safe — out of danger

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