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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. pass — a permit
  3. current — electric
  4. lean — thin
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. lean — to bend
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. face — part of the head
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. can — a tin
  14. face — to point toward
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. current — of water
  17. can — to be able to
  18. can — a tin
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. face — to confront
  21. bore — to tire
  22. bore — to drill
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. bore — gave birth

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