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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. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. bulb — for light
  5. bank — for money
  6. bulb — for light
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. foot — a measure
  12. current — electric
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. current — happening now
  16. saw — the tool
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. bank — for money
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. current — of water
  22. bank — of a river
  23. saw — the tool
  24. pitch — completely

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