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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 are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. bound — tied together
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. current — electric
  8. saw — the tool
  9. current — of water
  10. bound — certain
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. row — to paddle
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. current — happening now
  18. row — a line
  19. bore — to drill
  20. bore — to tire
  21. sharp — clever
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. saw — the tool

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