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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. bear — the animal
  3. field — a subject
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. charge — in control
  7. rash — a series
  8. field — farmland
  9. bound — obliged
  10. bear — the animal
  11. rest — what's left
  12. charge — a price
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. current — happening now
  15. rest — a break
  16. field — for sport
  17. charge — electricity
  18. rash — hasty
  19. current — of water
  20. bound — tied together
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. rest — what's left
  24. bound — certain

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