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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 116 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. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. can — a tin
  3. pitch — completely
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. sharp — clever
  6. bass — the fish
  7. file — a tool
  8. can — a tin
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. current — happening now
  12. current — electric
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. file — a line of people
  17. can — to be able to
  18. bass — low music
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. current — of water
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. file — a document
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. safe — out of danger

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