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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 120 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 kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. bulb — for light
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. scale — in music
  6. rock — a stone
  7. current — of water
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. game — wild animals
  10. scale — size or range
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. march — the month
  13. bear — the animal
  14. current — electric
  15. current — happening now
  16. bear — the animal
  17. march — music
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. game — a kind of play
  20. bulb — for light
  21. game — a match
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. march — the month
  24. rock — music

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