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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: content · vault · current · bank · bulb · bore · stock · pass

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. content — the amount
  4. stock — goods
  5. vault — a safe
  6. bulb — for light
  7. pass — a permit
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. current — of water
  10. bank — for money
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. bore — to drill
  16. current — electric
  17. bank — for money
  18. vault — in gymnastics
  19. bore — to tire
  20. bank — of a river
  21. stock — shares
  22. content — happy
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. bulb — for light

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