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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. tube — a container
  5. charge — in control
  6. current — electric
  7. cap — a lid
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. bore — to tire
  10. bore — to drill
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. charge — electricity
  13. current — happening now
  14. current — of water
  15. charge — a price
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. bound — certain
  18. tube — the underground
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. bound — obliged
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. snap — to click
  23. cap — a hat
  24. cap — of ice

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