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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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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: stem · nail · bore · dip · bank · lean · board · current

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. board — a committee
  4. stem — to come from
  5. current — of water
  6. bore — to tire
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. current — happening now
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. board — to get on
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. bank — for money
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. lean — to bend
  16. bank — for money
  17. lean — thin
  18. current — electric
  19. dip — to sink
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. bank — of a river
  24. bore — to drill

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