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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. bound — obliged
  4. drill — the tool
  5. pop — to visit
  6. rock — music
  7. drill — army training
  8. current — electric
  9. rock — a stone
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. bound — certain
  12. current — of water
  13. roll — a list
  14. roll — a cake
  15. suit — clothes
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. suit — in cards
  18. bound — tied together
  19. suit — to fit
  20. current — happening now
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. pop — soda
  23. drill — a practice
  24. trunk — of a car

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