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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 120 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 · wake · bore · hand · bound · rush · suit · board

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. bound — tied together
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. current — electric
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. current — of water
  7. bound — certain
  8. rush — hurry
  9. board — to get on
  10. wake — a trail
  11. board — a committee
  12. bore — to drill
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. suit — in cards
  17. suit — to fit
  18. bore — to tire
  19. hand — in cards
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. hand — help
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. suit — clothes
  24. bound — obliged

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