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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 116 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 haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. wind — to turn a key
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. bulb — for light
  5. current — electric
  6. bound — tied together
  7. current — of water
  8. suit — clothes
  9. bound — obliged
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. mark — a trace
  15. bound — certain
  16. wind — moving air
  17. suit — to fit
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. mark — a grade
  20. suit — in cards
  21. wind — moving air
  22. current — happening now
  23. bulb — for light
  24. racket — a loud noise

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