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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. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  6. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  13. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. roll — a list
  3. bank — for money
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. kick — in football
  6. chest — of your body
  7. bank — for money
  8. board — to get on
  9. board — a committee
  10. current — electric
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. chest — a box
  13. kick — with a leg
  14. pit — a hole
  15. bank — of a river
  16. suit — to fit
  17. chest — of your body
  18. pit — in a race
  19. suit — in cards
  20. roll — a cake
  21. current — of water
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. suit — clothes
  24. current — happening now

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