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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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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: rock · current · season · ruler · snap · cap · sharp · bound

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. bound — obliged
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. bound — certain
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. rock — music
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. bound — tied together
  10. sharp — clever
  11. season — in sport
  12. cap — a hat
  13. season — of the year
  14. cap — of ice
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. current — happening now
  17. rock — a stone
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. snap — to click
  20. current — electric
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. cap — a lid
  24. current — of water

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