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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. current — electric
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. branch — a division
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. bound — tied together
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. can — a tin
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. bound — obliged
  11. can — a tin
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. can — to be able to
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. bound — certain
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. foot — a measure
  20. current — of water
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. current — happening now
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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