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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: file · current · cell · rest · ball · bound · stem · rush

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. He was locked up in a ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  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. current — electric
  2. file — a document
  3. rest — what's left
  4. file — a line of people
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. cell — in biology
  8. ball — a great time
  9. rest — a break
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. rush — hurry
  12. bound — certain
  13. cell — in a prison
  14. current — of water
  15. bound — tied together
  16. rest — what's left
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. ball — a dance
  20. file — a tool
  21. stem — to come from
  22. cell — a phone
  23. bound — obliged
  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