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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. When are we going to ________________?
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. current — of water
  3. rush — hurry
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. current — electric
  6. staff — a stick
  7. staff — employees
  8. staff — employees
  9. roll — a cake
  10. present — a gift
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. land — a country
  14. present — the time now
  15. roll — a list
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. land — ground
  22. present — there
  23. land — to come down
  24. current — happening now

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