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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: current · bear · bulb · mark · key · staff · board · arm

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. current — of water
  3. mark — a trace
  4. key — the most important part
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. current — electric
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. board — a committee
  9. bulb — for light
  10. bear — the animal
  11. bulb — for light
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. staff — a stick
  15. mark — a grade
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. current — happening now
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. key — for a lock
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. key — in music
  22. staff — employees
  23. board — to get on
  24. staff — employees

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