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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.

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468
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: mine · craft · fine · current · stand · bound · game · kick

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. current — happening now
  3. game — a kind of play
  4. mine — for digging
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. game — a match
  7. craft — boats
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. bound — tied together
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. current — electric
  14. bound — obliged
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. current — of water
  17. craft — a skill
  18. kick — in football
  19. fine — high quality
  20. game — wild animals
  21. stand — to bear
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. fine — all right
  24. mine — belonging to me

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