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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. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. net — after costs
  3. net — for catching
  4. present — a gift
  5. key — the most important part
  6. bound — tied together
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. key — in music
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. current — happening now
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. tube — a container
  15. present — the time now
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. current — electric
  19. net — in sport
  20. bound — obliged
  21. present — there
  22. bound — certain
  23. key — for a lock
  24. tube — the underground

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