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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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: saw · current · pit · firm · bulb · straw

  1. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. straw — a straw man
  3. current — electric
  4. saw — the tool
  5. bulb — for light
  6. firm — steady
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. pit — in a race
  9. current — of water
  10. bulb — for light
  11. firm — decided
  12. saw — the tool
  13. straw — to clutch at straws
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. straw — dry grass
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. current — happening now
  18. firm — a company

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