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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've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. current — of water
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. bank — for money
  5. current — electric
  6. dip — to sink
  7. bank — for money
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. current — happening now
  10. stock — goods
  11. bore — to drill
  12. pop — music
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. stock — shares
  16. bank — of a river
  17. bass — the fish
  18. pop — soda
  19. bass — low music
  20. bulb — for light
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. pop — to visit
  23. bore — to tire
  24. stock — a soup base

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