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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: cap · bore · tear · patient · bass · row · current · leaves

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  15. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. bass — low music
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. tear — to rip
  9. row — a line
  10. bore — to drill
  11. current — of water
  12. current — electric
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. tear — from crying
  15. tear — from crying
  16. current — happening now
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. cap — a lid
  20. bass — the fish
  21. cap — of ice
  22. bore — to tire
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. cap — a hat

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