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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: bore · suit · current · deal · degree · rush · sharp · pitcher

  1. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. bore — to drill
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. current — happening now
  6. suit — clothes
  7. degree — an amount
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. degree — from a university
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. current — of water
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. rush — hurry
  17. degree — temperature
  18. sharp — clever
  19. suit — in cards
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. suit — to fit
  22. deal — to handle
  23. bore — to tire
  24. current — electric

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