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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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. rush — hurry
  3. can — to be able to
  4. lean — thin
  5. can — a tin
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. band — a music group
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. current — of water
  12. current — happening now
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. current — electric
  17. lean — to bend
  18. band — a ring
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. can — a tin
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. leaves — to go away

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