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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 116 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 · wax · stem · press · lie · content · bound · suit

  1. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — to come from
  2. bound — obliged
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. lie — to recline
  5. bound — certain
  6. current — happening now
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. press — a publisher
  9. bound — tied together
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. suit — in cards
  13. current — of water
  14. press — to push
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. wax — to grow
  17. suit — to fit
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. press — newspapers
  20. content — the amount
  21. suit — clothes
  22. content — videos and posts
  23. current — electric
  24. content — happy

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