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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 120 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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. shower — to wash
  6. current — electric
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. bore — to drill
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. current — happening now
  11. object — an aim
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. shower — rain
  15. bulb — for light
  16. object — a thing
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. bore — to tire
  19. shower — a meteor shower
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. current — of water
  22. object — to protest
  23. bulb — for light
  24. coach — a trainer

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