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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. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. current — happening now
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. toast — bread
  6. pit — a hole
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. rule — a law
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. hand — help
  14. current — of water
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. pass — a permit
  17. rule — government
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. hand — in cards
  20. pit — in a race
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. current — electric
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. rule — to rule out

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