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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 · mouse · pit · current · trunk · suit · chest · pound

  1. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  8. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. current — of water
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. bore — to tire
  6. current — happening now
  7. chest — a box
  8. pound — to hit hard
  9. suit — in cards
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. pound — for dogs
  14. current — electric
  15. bore — to drill
  16. chest — of your body
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. chest — of your body
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. suit — to fit
  22. pound — a weight
  23. pit — in a race
  24. suit — clothes

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