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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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  17. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. content — happy
  6. can — a tin
  7. rush — hurry
  8. straw — a straw man
  9. current — electric
  10. prune — to trim
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. straw — to clutch at straws
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. content — the amount
  15. fine — high quality
  16. straw — dry grass
  17. content — videos and posts
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. pass — a permit
  20. current — of water
  21. fine — all right
  22. prune — to trim
  23. can — to be able to
  24. can — a tin

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