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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.

Make a worksheet

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. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  22. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. root — the cause
  3. content — the amount
  4. current — electric
  5. spell — letters
  6. rock — a stone
  7. root — of a plant
  8. content — happy
  9. mug — a cup
  10. mug — to rob
  11. spell — a short time
  12. fine — high quality
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. current — of water
  15. straw — a straw man
  16. rock — music
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. spell — magic
  19. fine — all right
  20. current — happening now
  21. straw — to clutch at straws
  22. content — videos and posts
  23. root — of a word
  24. mug — a face

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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