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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 116 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 didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — to stop sleeping
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. suit — clothes
  4. bore — to drill
  5. mate — a partner
  6. track — a path
  7. mate — a friend
  8. current — happening now
  9. track — a song
  10. current — electric
  11. bound — tied together
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. bound — obliged
  14. bore — to tire
  15. bound — certain
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. track — to keep track
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. current — of water
  20. wake — a trail
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. suit — to fit
  23. mate — to breed
  24. suit — in cards

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