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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: content · suit · patient · current · leaves · bound · root · bass

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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. leaves — of a tree
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. suit — to fit
  6. bass — low music
  7. suit — clothes
  8. suit — in cards
  9. root — of a plant
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. bound — certain
  12. content — happy
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. bass — the fish
  17. content — the amount
  18. root — of a word
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. current — of water
  21. bound — obliged
  22. root — the cause
  23. bass — the instrument
  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