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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. lean — to bend
  3. board — to get on
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. key — in music
  6. key — for a lock
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. mark — a grade
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. deal — to handle
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. key — the most important part
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. current — happening now
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. current — electric
  21. board — a committee
  22. lean — thin
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. mark — a trace

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