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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: ball · chip · current · toast · lie · mark · drill · bore

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. ball — a great time
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. drill — the tool
  6. chip — for betting
  7. chip — to eat
  8. bore — to tire
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. drill — a practice
  12. toast — bread
  13. current — happening now
  14. mark — a grade
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. current — of water
  17. lie — to recline
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. ball — a dance
  20. drill — army training
  21. bore — to drill
  22. mark — a trace
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. lie — an untruth

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