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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bulb · mate · plane · mug · tube · wake · current · degree

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. degree — an amount
  5. bulb — for light
  6. degree — temperature
  7. plane — a tool
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. mug — to rob
  10. bulb — for light
  11. current — happening now
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. tube — the underground
  14. mug — a face
  15. mate — a friend
  16. mate — to breed
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. mate — a partner
  20. wake — a trail
  21. mug — a cup
  22. tube — a container
  23. degree — from a university
  24. current — of water

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