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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 116 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. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. David sat on the ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. tube — the underground
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. swing — to play on
  7. bank — of a river
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. bulb — for light
  10. bulb — for light
  11. current — happening now
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. swing — in golf
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. bank — for money
  17. saw — the tool
  18. swing — music
  19. saw — the tool
  20. bore — to tire
  21. current — electric
  22. current — of water
  23. bore — to drill
  24. bank — for money

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