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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: leaves · stand · current · bore · cabinet · rush · foot · spell

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. foot — a measure
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. rush — hurry
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. bore — to tire
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. current — of water
  14. stand — to bear
  15. current — electric
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. current — happening now
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. bore — to drill
  22. spell — a short time
  23. spell — letters
  24. spell — magic

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