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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. current — of water
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. current — happening now
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. current — electric
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. sharp — clever
  10. bound — obliged
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. bore — to tire
  15. suit — in cards
  16. bound — tied together
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. bound — certain
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. suit — to fit
  21. branch — a division
  22. bore — to drill
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. dip — to sink

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