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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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. bank — of a river
  3. bound — certain
  4. mine — for digging
  5. current — happening now
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. current — of water
  8. bank — for money
  9. charge — electricity
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. bound — tied together
  12. current — electric
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. charge — in control
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. charge — a price
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. bank — for money
  20. pop — to visit
  21. pop — music
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. pop — soda
  24. stand — to bear

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