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

  1. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  19. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. bulb — for light
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. bulb — for light
  5. staff — employees
  6. rest — what's left
  7. current — electric
  8. rest — what's left
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. staff — a stick
  11. staff — employees
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. rest — a break
  15. straw — a straw man
  16. current — happening now
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. straw — dry grass
  19. straw — to clutch at straws
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. current — of water
  24. bowl — a dish

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