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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 120 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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. foot — a measure
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. current — electric
  5. spell — letters
  6. file — a document
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. spell — magic
  9. key — the most important part
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. current — of water
  13. file — a tool
  14. file — a line of people
  15. key — in music
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. spell — a short time
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. key — for a lock

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