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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: can · kid · current · tear · perch · bore · foot · pass

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  5. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  13. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. pass — a permit
  3. foot — a measure
  4. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  5. tear — from crying
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. bore — to drill
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. tear — from crying
  13. kid — to tease
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. tear — to rip
  16. can — to be able to
  17. kid — child
  18. current — happening now
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. can — a tin
  21. can — a tin
  22. perch — the fish
  23. current — of water
  24. bore — to tire

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