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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 hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  2. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — of water
  2. content — the amount
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. current — electric
  5. spring — the season
  6. net — in sport
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. current — of water
  9. bank — for money
  10. current — happening now
  11. spring — a coil
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bank — of a river
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. content — happy
  18. bulb — for light
  19. net — after costs
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. net — for catching
  24. bank — for money

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