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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. When are we going to ________________?
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. branch — a division
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. current — electric
  5. staff — employees
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. bound — obliged
  8. land — a country
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. staff — a stick
  11. last — finally
  12. bound — certain
  13. land — ground
  14. bound — tied together
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. current — happening now
  17. last — to go on
  18. current — of water
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. last — final
  22. land — to come down
  23. rush — hurry
  24. staff — employees

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