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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. current — of water
  3. spell — a short time
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. root — of a plant
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. saw — the tool
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. bulb — for light
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. root — of a word
  14. spell — magic
  15. spell — letters
  16. root — the cause
  17. wake — a trail
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. current — electric
  20. saw — the tool
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. snap — to click
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. bulb — for light

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