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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bound · shower · racket · mug · current · patient · stick · stand

  1. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — to wash
  2. mug — to rob
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. stand — to bear
  5. current — electric
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. current — happening now
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. current — of water
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. bound — certain
  15. mug — a cup
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. shower — rain
  19. mug — a face
  20. bound — tied together
  21. bound — obliged
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. stand — on your feet

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