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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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. scale — size or range
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. face — to confront
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. can — to be able to
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. rock — a stone
  10. face — to point toward
  11. current — electric
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. sharp — clever
  15. rock — music
  16. current — happening now
  17. can — a tin
  18. scale — in music
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. current — of water
  21. can — a tin
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. wound — an injury
  24. face — part of the head

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