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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. He was locked up in a ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. current — happening now
  4. cell — in biology
  5. dip — to sink
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. cell — in a prison
  8. suit — clothes
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. fine — high quality
  11. fine — all right
  12. pop — to visit
  13. current — electric
  14. ground — a position
  15. suit — in cards
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. current — of water
  18. ground — crushed
  19. cell — a phone
  20. ground — the earth
  21. suit — to fit
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. pop — soda

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