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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. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. snap — to click
  4. deal — to handle
  5. season — in sport
  6. can — to be able to
  7. saw — the tool
  8. current — of water
  9. can — a tin
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. saw — the tool
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. current — electric
  16. snap — to speak sharply
  17. season — of the year
  18. can — a tin
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. rush — hurry
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. deal — an agreement

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