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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 116 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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. bound — certain
  3. current — happening now
  4. key — in music
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. staff — employees
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. key — for a lock
  10. perch — the fish
  11. bound — obliged
  12. current — electric
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. staff — a stick
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. key — the most important part
  17. bound — tied together
  18. bore — to drill
  19. chip — to eat
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. staff — employees
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. current — of water
  24. chip — for betting

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