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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  4. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  5. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  6. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. present — the time now
  4. land — a country
  5. present — there
  6. land — ground
  7. land — to come down
  8. fine — high quality
  9. present — a gift
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. current — of water
  12. bound — tied together
  13. rush — hurry
  14. current — happening now
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. bound — obliged
  20. fine — all right
  21. bound — certain
  22. bark — a dog's sound
  23. bark — to shout
  24. rush — a thrill

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