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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 drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. present — the time now
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. fine — high quality
  5. current — happening now
  6. present — a gift
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. present — there
  13. pass — a permit
  14. current — electric
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. fine — all right
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. current — of water
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. mouse — for a computer

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