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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. current — happening now
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. stand — to bear
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. can — a tin
  12. season — of the year
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. pass — a permit
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. can — a tin
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. current — electric
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. season — in sport
  24. can — to be able to

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