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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. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. toast — bread
  4. current — of water
  5. current — electric
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. current — happening now
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. bound — obliged
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. bark — of a tree
  16. game — a match
  17. branch — a division
  18. bound — tied together
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. bound — certain
  21. game — wild animals
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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