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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. When are we going to ________________?
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. current — happening now
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. deal — to handle
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. saw — the tool
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. saw — the tool
  13. lean — to bend
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. land — ground
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. land — a country
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. lean — thin
  22. land — to come down
  23. current — of water
  24. fan — a supporter

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