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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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. current — electric
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. current — of water
  5. bass — the fish
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. rock — a stone
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. bulb — for light
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. key — in music
  14. bulb — for light
  15. mine — for digging
  16. bass — low music
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. current — happening now
  19. rock — music
  20. key — for a lock
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. key — the most important part
  24. dip — to sink

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