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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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Word bank
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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: mark · drill · kid · mouse · chip · ground · current · bulb

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. drill — army training
  5. ground — the earth
  6. ground — a position
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. drill — the tool
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. current — of water
  13. ground — crushed
  14. kid — to tease
  15. mark — a trace
  16. drill — a practice
  17. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  18. current — happening now
  19. mark — a grade
  20. kid — child
  21. chip — for betting
  22. bulb — for light
  23. chip — to eat
  24. current — electric

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