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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: branch · object · sharp · current · board · bound · firm · mouse

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. current — of water
  3. current — electric
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. bound — certain
  6. branch — a division
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. bound — obliged
  9. firm — steady
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. board — a committee
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. object — a thing
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. object — an aim
  18. firm — decided
  19. board — to get on
  20. bound — tied together
  21. object — to protest
  22. firm — a company
  23. sharp — clever
  24. current — happening now

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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