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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 train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. staff — employees
  3. net — for catching
  4. net — after costs
  5. current — happening now
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. bulb — for light
  8. net — in sport
  9. stand — to bear
  10. prune — to trim
  11. staff — a stick
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. wake — a trail
  15. prune — to trim
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. current — electric
  21. current — of water
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. staff — employees
  24. bulb — for light

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