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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: foot · fine · current · sharp · snap · bank · dip · bound

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. bound — tied together
  5. fine — all right
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. fine — high quality
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. sharp — clever
  10. bound — obliged
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. foot — a measure
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. bank — for money
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. current — happening now
  17. current — electric
  18. dip — to sink
  19. bound — certain
  20. bank — of a river
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. current — of water
  24. snap — to click

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