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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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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: rush · cap · bound · deal · current · branch · lie · pass

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. bound — certain
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. current — of water
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. pass — a permit
  10. cap — a lid
  11. branch — a division
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. deal — to handle
  14. cap — a hat
  15. rush — hurry
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. lie — to recline
  19. current — happening now
  20. bound — obliged
  21. cap — of ice
  22. bound — tied together
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. lie — an untruth

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