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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: file · current · sharp · dip · bank · bound · fork · mouse

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. fork — in a road
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. bound — obliged
  5. fork — a garden tool
  6. current — of water
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. current — electric
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. sharp — clever
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. bound — certain
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. file — a line of people
  17. current — happening now
  18. file — a document
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. bank — of a river
  21. file — a tool
  22. bank — for money
  23. bank — for money
  24. bound — tied together

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