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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. ball — a great time
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. current — happening now
  8. field — farmland
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. ball — a dance
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. bulb — for light
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. field — a subject
  20. current — electric
  21. field — for sport
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. racket — for tennis

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