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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  20. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. Check the label for the sugar ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. bound — tied together
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. present — there
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. current — happening now
  7. bank — of a river
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. rock — a stone
  12. wake — a trail
  13. rock — music
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. bank — for money
  16. content — happy
  17. current — electric
  18. bound — certain
  19. content — videos and posts
  20. present — the time now
  21. bank — for money
  22. bound — obliged
  23. present — a gift
  24. content — the amount

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