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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  2. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  16. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — to turn a key
  2. wind — moving air
  3. cue — a signal
  4. pit — in a race
  5. chair — a professorship
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. current — electric
  8. current — of water
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. can — to be able to
  12. current — happening now
  13. cue — for pool
  14. pit — a hole
  15. chair — a leader
  16. vault — an arched ceiling
  17. can — a tin
  18. vault — a safe
  19. cue — a hint
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. can — a tin
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. wind — moving air

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