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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: suit · mate · can · mark · nail · current · bore · lean

  1. Have you found your soul ________________?
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a partner
  2. mark — a trace
  3. bore — to tire
  4. suit — to fit
  5. mark — a grade
  6. current — of water
  7. can — to be able to
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. current — electric
  10. suit — clothes
  11. current — happening now
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. can — a tin
  14. lean — thin
  15. bore — to drill
  16. mate — a friend
  17. lean — to bend
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. can — a tin
  20. suit — in cards
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. mate — to breed

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