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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. present — there
  2. bulb — for light
  3. bound — tied together
  4. staff — employees
  5. bulb — for light
  6. staff — a stick
  7. mine — for digging
  8. current — happening now
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. current — of water
  12. bound — certain
  13. mate — to breed
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. staff — employees
  16. present — the time now
  17. bound — obliged
  18. dip — to sink
  19. mate — a partner
  20. present — a gift
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. mate — a friend
  24. current — electric

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