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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 116 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.

Words on the sheet
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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: mug · lie · cold · bound · current · staff · ruler · rock

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The water is too ________________.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. rock — a stone
  3. rock — music
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. mug — a cup
  7. current — happening now
  8. current — electric
  9. staff — employees
  10. lie — to recline
  11. current — of water
  12. cold — not warm
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. cold — the Cold War
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. mug — a face
  18. bound — obliged
  19. bound — tied together
  20. staff — a stick
  21. bound — certain
  22. staff — employees
  23. cold — an illness
  24. lie — an untruth

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