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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: bear · last · lean · fork · current · date · bound · pass

  1. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — to eat with
  2. current — of water
  3. last — to go on
  4. bear — the animal
  5. last — finally
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. fork — in a road
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. pass — a permit
  12. current — happening now
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. lean — to bend
  15. last — final
  16. bound — certain
  17. bound — tied together
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. date — the fruit
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. current — electric
  22. bear — the animal
  23. lean — thin
  24. bound — obliged

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