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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: toast · foot · present · racket · mug · scale · bound · current

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. present — a gift
  3. current — happening now
  4. current — of water
  5. present — the time now
  6. bound — certain
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. present — there
  10. bound — tied together
  11. foot — a measure
  12. mug — to rob
  13. mug — a cup
  14. scale — size or range
  15. bound — obliged
  16. scale — in music
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. toast — bread
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. mug — a face
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. foot — the bottom

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