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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. row — a line
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. key — the most important part
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. ball — a dance
  9. current — happening now
  10. row — to paddle
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. bore — to drill
  13. current — of water
  14. ball — a great time
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. key — in music
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. bore — to tire
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. key — for a lock
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. nail — for a hammer

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