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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.

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: bore · tube · pitch · current · rest · board · chair · rock

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. current — electric
  3. chair — to sit on
  4. bore — to tire
  5. tube — a container
  6. rock — music
  7. rock — a stone
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. current — of water
  12. rest — what's left
  13. chair — a leader
  14. bore — to drill
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. board — a committee
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. current — happening now
  20. tube — the underground
  21. pitch — completely
  22. board — to get on
  23. chair — a professorship
  24. rest — a break

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