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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: cabinet · fine · bore · lean · plane · current · bound · kick

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. bound — tied together
  3. lean — to bend
  4. kick — with a leg
  5. bore — to drill
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. kick — in football
  8. bound — certain
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. fine — all right
  11. current — of water
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. lean — thin
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. bound — obliged
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. plane — a tool
  18. lean — to rest against
  19. bore — to tire
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. current — electric
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. fine — high quality
  24. plane — in geometry

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