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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: suit · mouse · bowl · jam · current · capital · bulb · spring

  1. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — the season
  2. capital — money
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. current — of water
  5. capital — a city
  6. current — electric
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bulb — for light
  13. spring — a coil
  14. suit — in cards
  15. spring — of water
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. suit — clothes
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. suit — to fit
  20. current — happening now
  21. capital — a big letter
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. bowl — a dish

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