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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 116 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 train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. bear — the animal
  4. current — happening now
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. mug — to rob
  7. current — of water
  8. bear — the animal
  9. current — electric
  10. court — of law
  11. court — of a king
  12. chip — to eat
  13. chip — for betting
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. mug — a cup
  16. fine — high quality
  17. mug — a face
  18. court — for sport
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. bore — to tire
  21. fine — all right
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. bore — to drill
  24. fine — a penalty

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