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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. bore — to drill
  3. stand — to bear
  4. bound — obliged
  5. fine — high quality
  6. current — of water
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. fine — all right
  9. bound — certain
  10. current — happening now
  11. current — electric
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. bass — the fish
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. mine — for digging
  17. saw — the tool
  18. saw — the tool
  19. bass — low music
  20. bound — tied together
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. bore — to tire
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. bore — gave birth

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