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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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. current — of water
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. scale — size or range
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. bound — obliged
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. mate — a friend
  11. current — electric
  12. current — happening now
  13. bound — tied together
  14. prune — to trim
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. mate — to breed
  17. scale — in music
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. bound — certain
  20. prune — to trim
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. mate — a partner
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. fork — to eat with

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