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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. current — electric
  4. tube — a container
  5. current — of water
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. bass — low music
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. bore — to tire
  14. bound — obliged
  15. tube — the underground
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. bore — to drill
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. bass — the fish
  22. bound — certain
  23. current — happening now
  24. bowl — to roll

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