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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. scale — in music
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. scale — size or range
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. can — a tin
  8. current — of water
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. can — to be able to
  12. current — electric
  13. bear — the animal
  14. rock — music
  15. pit — a hole
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. current — happening now
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. pit — in a race
  20. can — a tin
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. bear — the animal
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. rock — a stone

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