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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: fan · drill · bay · stand · row · bear · cabinet · current

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. bear — the animal
  3. drill — a practice
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. row — a line
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. drill — the tool
  11. stand — to bear
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. row — to paddle
  14. current — electric
  15. bear — the animal
  16. current — happening now
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. drill — army training
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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