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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 old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. The ball is in your ________________.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. current — electric
  3. pit — a hole
  4. court — for sport
  5. chip — to eat
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. current — happening now
  9. saw — the tool
  10. pit — in a race
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. court — of a king
  13. current — of water
  14. court — of law
  15. bulb — for light
  16. staff — employees
  17. bulb — for light
  18. saw — the tool
  19. staff — employees
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. bore — to drill
  23. bore — to tire
  24. chip — for betting

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