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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. David sat on the ________________.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. swing — in golf
  3. mate — a friend
  4. swing — music
  5. tube — the underground
  6. tube — a container
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. mark — a trace
  9. swing — to play on
  10. suit — in cards
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. mate — a partner
  13. current — of water
  14. mate — to breed
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. suit — to fit
  18. current — electric
  19. current — happening now
  20. toast — bread
  21. snap — to click
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. suit — clothes

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