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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. current — of water
  4. track — to keep track
  5. track — a song
  6. track — a path
  7. firm — decided
  8. rash — hasty
  9. current — electric
  10. current — happening now
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. firm — a company
  13. rash — a series
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. firm — steady
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. bound — obliged
  19. bound — certain
  20. root — of a word
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. root — the cause
  23. date — the fruit
  24. root — of a plant

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