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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: shower · bound · safe · current · tube · bore · cell · prune

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. He was locked up in a ________________.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. current — of water
  3. bound — tied together
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. tube — the underground
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. current — happening now
  8. current — electric
  9. bound — certain
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. shower — rain
  12. tube — a container
  13. prune — to trim
  14. cell — a phone
  15. shower — to wash
  16. bore — to tire
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. bore — to drill
  20. prune — to trim
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. cell — in a prison
  23. bound — obliged
  24. bore — gave birth

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