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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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  22. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. club — for golf
  3. bass — low music
  4. scale — in music
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. game — a match
  9. current — electric
  10. bulb — for light
  11. current — happening now
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. bass — the fish
  14. bulb — for light
  15. current — of water
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. scale — size or range
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. club — a group
  22. club — for dancing
  23. game — wild animals
  24. pitcher — a jug

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