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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 120 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 works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. current — electric
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. drill — a practice
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. current — happening now
  7. saw — the tool
  8. drill — the tool
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. bound — certain
  11. pound — a weight
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. pound — for dogs
  14. bound — obliged
  15. rest — what's left
  16. rest — a break
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. drill — army training
  19. pound — to hit hard
  20. bound — tied together
  21. rest — what's left
  22. current — of water
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. rush — hurry

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