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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 120 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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. current — of water
  4. bass — low music
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. bulb — for light
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. stock — shares
  11. dip — to sink
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. bass — the fish
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. bulb — for light
  21. stock — goods
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. pitch — completely
  24. current — electric

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