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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 120 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: mug · foot · current · wake · nail · bound · pit · club

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. club — a group
  3. mug — a cup
  4. mug — a face
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. foot — a measure
  8. pit — in a race
  9. wake — a trail
  10. current — electric
  11. bound — certain
  12. current — of water
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. club — for dancing
  15. current — happening now
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. club — for golf
  19. mug — to rob
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. bound — obliged
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. pit — a hole

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