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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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. fork — in a road
  3. net — after costs
  4. rest — a break
  5. current — happening now
  6. rest — what's left
  7. rock — a stone
  8. craft — a handicraft
  9. can — to be able to
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. current — of water
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. craft — a skill
  14. can — a tin
  15. rock — music
  16. can — a tin
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. net — in sport
  19. rest — what's left
  20. craft — boats
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. net — for catching
  23. fork — a garden tool
  24. hide — animal skin

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