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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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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: current · sharp · pound · fine · rush · mug · leaves · branch

  1. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — for dogs
  2. fine — high quality
  3. branch — a division
  4. pound — a weight
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. fine — all right
  7. current — happening now
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. current — electric
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. mug — to rob
  14. mug — a face
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. sharp — clever
  18. pound — to hit hard
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. mug — a cup
  23. rush — hurry
  24. current — of water

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