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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: stem · bass · mug · toast · spring · bank · bound · current

  1. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. current — happening now
  3. bound — obliged
  4. bass — the fish
  5. spring — of water
  6. spring — the season
  7. mug — a face
  8. bound — certain
  9. bass — low music
  10. bank — for money
  11. spring — a coil
  12. toast — bread
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. stem — to come from
  16. current — of water
  17. bank — for money
  18. bound — tied together
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. bank — of a river
  21. mug — to rob
  22. mug — a cup
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. current — electric

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