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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. pit — in a race
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. pop — to visit
  7. bulb — for light
  8. tube — a container
  9. current — of water
  10. pit — a hole
  11. tube — the underground
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. current — electric
  18. pop — music
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. current — happening now
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. pop — soda

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