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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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Word bank
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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. staff — employees
  3. tube — the underground
  4. staff — employees
  5. tube — a container
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. ball — a great time
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. bass — the fish
  11. ball — a dance
  12. bass — low music
  13. current — happening now
  14. bound — tied together
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. bound — obliged
  18. staff — a stick
  19. current — of water
  20. bound — certain
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. leaves — lets stay

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