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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. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bound — obliged
  4. drill — army training
  5. object — to protest
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. current — happening now
  8. suit — in cards
  9. bound — certain
  10. current — electric
  11. bound — tied together
  12. object — an aim
  13. saw — the tool
  14. suit — clothes
  15. bear — the animal
  16. saw — the tool
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. drill — a practice
  21. object — a thing
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. suit — to fit
  24. current — of water

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