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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 hit the ball with his ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. current — electric
  4. rash — hasty
  5. cue — a hint
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. board — to get on
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. dip — to sink
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. current — of water
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cue — for pool
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. rash — a series
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. current — happening now
  23. cue — a signal
  24. board — a committee

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