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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 just a dried plum.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. current — electric
  3. rock — a stone
  4. pop — soda
  5. current — of water
  6. prune — to trim
  7. prune — to trim
  8. bulb — for light
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. saw — the tool
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. saw — the tool
  16. pop — music
  17. root — of a word
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. bulb — for light
  20. rock — music
  21. current — happening now
  22. root — of a plant
  23. root — the cause
  24. pop — to visit

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