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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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. mark — a trace
  3. current — of water
  4. club — for dancing
  5. staff — a stick
  6. bound — certain
  7. staff — employees
  8. club — for golf
  9. fine — all right
  10. object — an aim
  11. bound — obliged
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. fine — high quality
  14. object — a thing
  15. present — there
  16. current — electric
  17. object — to protest
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. current — happening now
  20. present — a gift
  21. club — a group
  22. bound — tied together
  23. staff — employees
  24. mark — a grade

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