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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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: foot · jam · current · ball · face · kid · last · suit

  1. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. False peace will not ________________.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. last — finally
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. current — happening now
  4. current — electric
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. kid — to tease
  7. suit — to fit
  8. kid — child
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  11. suit — clothes
  12. face — to point toward
  13. last — to go on
  14. face — part of the head
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. suit — in cards
  17. ball — a dance
  18. foot — a measure
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. ball — a great time
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. current — of water
  23. face — to confront
  24. last — final

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