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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. current — of water
  5. bound — obliged
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. bound — tied together
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. current — happening now
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. rock — a stone
  16. fine — all right
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. bound — certain
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. current — electric
  22. rock — music
  23. fine — high quality
  24. bay — a horse colour

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