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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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. ball — a great time
  3. stand — to bear
  4. bear — the animal
  5. bear — the animal
  6. current — happening now
  7. bound — certain
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. bound — tied together
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. present — there
  13. squash — the sport
  14. squash — to crush
  15. current — of water
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. ball — a dance
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. present — a gift
  23. current — electric
  24. bound — obliged

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