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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 · row · stand · bound · leaves · season · jam · cell

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. He was locked up in a ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. row — to paddle
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. stand — to bear
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. current — electric
  7. row — a line
  8. bound — certain
  9. season — in sport
  10. current — of water
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. cell — a phone
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. cell — in a prison
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. current — happening now
  21. bound — tied together
  22. season — of the year
  23. cell — in biology
  24. jam — a tight spot

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