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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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  6. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. When are we going to ________________?
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. bound — obliged
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. rock — music
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. club — for golf
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. bound — tied together
  9. rock — a stone
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. land — a country
  13. hand — in cards
  14. club — for dancing
  15. land — to come down
  16. hand — help
  17. club — a group
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. current — happening now
  20. current — of water
  21. land — ground
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. current — electric
  24. bound — certain

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