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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: stock · tear · current · pass · press · calf · bulb · bound

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  16. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. press — to push
  3. current — of water
  4. press — newspapers
  5. press — a publisher
  6. bulb — for light
  7. stock — goods
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. pass — a permit
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bound — tied together
  13. tear — to rip
  14. bound — obliged
  15. tear — from crying
  16. tear — from crying
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. current — happening now
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. stock — shares
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. current — electric

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