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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 120 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: mug · racket · bore · deal · current · wake · bear · board

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. bore — to tire
  3. current — of water
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. current — happening now
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. deal — to handle
  8. mug — a face
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. wake — a trail
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. mug — a cup
  15. mug — to rob
  16. bear — the animal
  17. bear — the animal
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. bore — to drill
  20. current — electric
  21. board — to get on
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. board — a committee

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