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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. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. current — happening now
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. current — electric
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. rest — what's left
  9. roll — a cake
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. roll — a list
  12. rock — a stone
  13. track — to keep track
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. rock — music
  17. track — a song
  18. rest — what's left
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. current — of water
  21. rest — a break
  22. toast — bread
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. ruler — for measuring

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