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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. saw — the tool
  3. roll — a cake
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. cue — for pool
  6. row — a line
  7. current — happening now
  8. rest — what's left
  9. current — of water
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. row — a quarrel
  13. shower — rain
  14. current — electric
  15. saw — the tool
  16. cue — a signal
  17. row — to paddle
  18. roll — a list
  19. rest — a break
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. rest — what's left
  22. cue — a hint
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. shower — to wash

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