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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. current — happening now
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. mark — a trace
  5. season — of the year
  6. season — in sport
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. rush — hurry
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. swing — music
  12. bulb — for light
  13. foot — a measure
  14. mark — a grade
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. perch — the fish
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. bulb — for light
  20. swing — to play on
  21. current — of water
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. swing — in golf

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