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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: fine · mug · current · court · suit · prune · cabinet · bore

  1. The ball is in your ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. court — for sport
  2. fine — all right
  3. mug — a cup
  4. bore — to tire
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. suit — clothes
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. fine — high quality
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. mug — a face
  11. current — of water
  12. prune — to trim
  13. court — of law
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. prune — to trim
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. current — electric
  18. court — of a king
  19. bore — to drill
  20. suit — to fit
  21. current — happening now
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. suit — in cards
  24. mug — to rob

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