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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. current — of water
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. current — happening now
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. fine — all right
  15. ball — a dance
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. current — electric
  18. ball — a great time
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. dip — to sink
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. bay — a horse colour

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