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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: bound · sharp · club · mark · current · pass · bear · bore

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. pass — a permit
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. bore — to drill
  5. club — for dancing
  6. bound — tied together
  7. sharp — clever
  8. club — for golf
  9. club — a group
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. current — electric
  13. current — happening now
  14. bear — the animal
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. bore — to tire
  17. mark — a trace
  18. current — of water
  19. bear — the animal
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. bound — obliged
  23. bound — certain
  24. bear — to put up with

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