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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. key — in music
  3. dip — to sink
  4. current — of water
  5. pit — a hole
  6. saw — the tool
  7. current — happening now
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. bore — to drill
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. current — electric
  14. key — for a lock
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. key — the most important part
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. bound — obliged
  19. saw — the tool
  20. bore — to tire
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. bound — tied together
  24. pit — in a race

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