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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: toast · current · spell · mug · mark · suit · lean · bore

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. current — happening now
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. lean — thin
  8. spell — a short time
  9. suit — to fit
  10. toast — bread
  11. spell — letters
  12. current — electric
  13. current — of water
  14. mug — a face
  15. mark — a grade
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. bore — to drill
  18. mug — a cup
  19. spell — magic
  20. suit — in cards
  21. bore — to tire
  22. lean — to bend
  23. mug — to rob
  24. mark — a trace

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