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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
468
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: leaves · bore · lie · court · fall · current · stand · bowl

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  20. The ball is in your ________________.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. bore — to drill
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. fall — the season
  6. bore — to tire
  7. fall — to drop
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. fall — to drop
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. lie — to recline
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. court — of law
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. stand — to bear
  19. court — of a king
  20. court — for sport
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. current — of water
  23. current — happening now
  24. current — electric

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