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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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. current — electric
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. bass — the fish
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. mate — a partner
  7. fine — all right
  8. fine — high quality
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. current — of water
  12. rule — to rule out
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. rule — government
  15. rush — hurry
  16. current — happening now
  17. mate — to breed
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. lie — to recline
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. mate — a friend
  23. bass — low music
  24. rule — a law

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