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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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. current — of water
  3. can — a tin
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. bound — tied together
  6. row — a line
  7. row — to paddle
  8. net — after costs
  9. current — electric
  10. net — in sport
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. can — to be able to
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. mate — to breed
  16. can — a tin
  17. mate — a partner
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. bound — certain
  22. net — for catching
  23. mate — a friend
  24. current — happening now

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