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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  6. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. can — a tin
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. fall — to drop
  6. fall — the season
  7. rock — a stone
  8. bass — low music
  9. pop — to visit
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. current — of water
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. sharp — clever
  14. bass — the fish
  15. pop — soda
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. current — electric
  20. fall — to drop
  21. pop — music
  22. can — to be able to
  23. rock — music
  24. can — a tin

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