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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 116 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: current · lean · mug · key · band · bank · patient · bore

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. bank — for money
  3. current — happening now
  4. lean — to bend
  5. mug — a face
  6. band — a music group
  7. mug — a cup
  8. key — the most important part
  9. bore — to drill
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. band — a ring
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. key — in music
  14. current — electric
  15. lean — thin
  16. bank — for money
  17. band — a rubber band
  18. key — for a lock
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. bore — to tire
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. current — of water
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. mug — to rob

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