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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 116 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: current · bound · leaves · can · pit · squash · rule · pitcher

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. bound — certain
  4. rule — to rule out
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. rule — a law
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. current — electric
  9. squash — to crush
  10. current — of water
  11. pit — a hole
  12. current — happening now
  13. squash — the sport
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. rule — government
  16. can — a tin
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. bound — tied together
  20. bound — obliged
  21. can — to be able to
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. can — a tin

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