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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. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. current — happening now
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. bulb — for light
  8. current — of water
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. mark — a trace
  12. dip — to sink
  13. key — for a lock
  14. branch — a division
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. pound — to hit hard
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. key — the most important part
  20. key — in music
  21. bulb — for light
  22. pound — for dogs
  23. mark — a grade
  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