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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. He was locked up in a ________________.
  2. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in a prison
  2. mine — for digging
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. current — happening now
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. bulb — for light
  8. cell — in biology
  9. bear — the animal
  10. rush — hurry
  11. bear — the animal
  12. roll — a list
  13. cell — a phone
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. bulb — for light
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. roll — a cake
  21. current — electric
  22. current — of water
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. mine — belonging to me

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