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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: current · hide · stock · bore · patient · wax · nail · bound

  1. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. current — happening now
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. stock — shares
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. wax — to grow
  14. current — of water
  15. bore — to drill
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. bound — certain
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. bore — to tire
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. bound — obliged
  22. bound — tied together
  23. stock — goods
  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