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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: bore · bound · current · safe · roll · suit · lean · rush

  1. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to bend
  2. roll — a cake
  3. suit — in cards
  4. suit — clothes
  5. roll — a list
  6. current — happening now
  7. bore — to tire
  8. bound — obliged
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. bound — certain
  15. current — electric
  16. rush — hurry
  17. bound — tied together
  18. current — of water
  19. bore — to drill
  20. suit — to fit
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. lean — thin

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