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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 116 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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. David sat on the ________________.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  17. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  18. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. current — electric
  3. deal — to handle
  4. current — of water
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — a tin
  11. pit — in a race
  12. swing — to play on
  13. pit — a hole
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. bound — tied together
  16. swing — in golf
  17. swing — music
  18. fork — in a road
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. can — to be able to
  21. bound — obliged
  22. fork — a garden tool
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. current — happening now

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