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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. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. present — there
  2. mug — a cup
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. current — happening now
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. mate — a friend
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. current — of water
  11. board — a committee
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. board — to get on
  16. mate — a partner
  17. mate — to breed
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. current — electric
  20. mug — to rob
  21. lie — to recline
  22. present — the time now
  23. present — a gift
  24. mug — a face

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