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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: perch · bound · drill · lie · cabinet · sharp · current · bore

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. drill — a practice
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. drill — the tool
  5. bound — certain
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. bore — to tire
  9. sharp — clever
  10. lie — to recline
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. current — happening now
  13. bore — to drill
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. drill — army training
  16. bound — tied together
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. bound — obliged
  22. current — electric
  23. current — of water
  24. perch — the fish

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