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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: leaves · lean · suit · track · current · chest · cabinet · bore

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. current — happening now
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. suit — in cards
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. lean — thin
  9. bore — to drill
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. track — to keep track
  12. chest — of your body
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. lean — to bend
  16. chest — of your body
  17. bore — to tire
  18. current — of water
  19. suit — to fit
  20. current — electric
  21. chest — a box
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. track — a path
  24. suit — clothes

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