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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. fine — all right
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. current — of water
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. mark — a grade
  10. straw — a straw man
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. current — electric
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. current — happening now
  16. straw — to clutch at straws
  17. bore — to tire
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. mark — a trace
  20. bore — to drill
  21. fine — high quality
  22. pitch — completely
  23. bulb — for light
  24. pass — to succeed

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