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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. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  20. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  21. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. present — there
  2. current — happening now
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. current — of water
  5. current — electric
  6. cue — a hint
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. bulb — for light
  9. march — music
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. mark — a trace
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. mark — a grade
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. cue — a signal
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. cue — for pool
  19. march — the month
  20. march — the month
  21. present — a gift
  22. bulb — for light
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. present — the time now

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