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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
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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: march · can · wave · craft · present · bound · mug · current

  1. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  7. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. present — there
  2. current — happening now
  3. bound — obliged
  4. present — a gift
  5. mug — a face
  6. march — the month
  7. craft — a handicraft
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. can — to be able to
  10. current — of water
  11. craft — a skill
  12. mug — to rob
  13. march — music
  14. march — the month
  15. can — a tin
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. present — the time now
  18. current — electric
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. mug — a cup
  21. bound — certain
  22. can — a tin
  23. craft — boats
  24. bound — tied together

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