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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 116 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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. The ball is in your ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. rash — a series
  3. court — of a king
  4. stem — to come from
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. rock — music
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. rash — hasty
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. current — of water
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. rock — a stone
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. mine — for digging
  19. court — of law
  20. pass — a permit
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. current — electric
  24. court — for sport

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