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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 · race · bark · can · foot · kick · bore · bank

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  15. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. bark — to shout
  4. bank — for money
  5. race — the arms race
  6. can — a tin
  7. bore — to tire
  8. current — happening now
  9. foot — a measure
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. current — of water
  12. bark — a dog's sound
  13. current — electric
  14. kick — in football
  15. race — a contest
  16. bank — of a river
  17. can — a tin
  18. bank — for money
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. can — to be able to
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. race — humankind
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. kick — with a leg

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