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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 120 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: file · suit · band · staff · bore · straw · current · bank

  1. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — to clutch at straws
  2. current — electric
  3. band — a ring
  4. file — a tool
  5. bank — for money
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. straw — dry grass
  8. bore — to drill
  9. straw — a straw man
  10. current — happening now
  11. file — a document
  12. suit — in cards
  13. file — a line of people
  14. bank — for money
  15. suit — to fit
  16. staff — a stick
  17. current — of water
  18. bore — to tire
  19. suit — clothes
  20. staff — employees
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. band — a music group
  23. bank — of a river
  24. staff — employees

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