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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 124 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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. board — to get on
  3. pit — in a race
  4. pitch — completely
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. current — happening now
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. bulb — for light
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. board — a committee
  12. current — electric
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. branch — a division
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. current — of water
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. pit — a hole
  24. bulb — for light

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