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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: staff · mark · bass · can · current · chip · bulb · rock

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. mark — a grade
  3. current — happening now
  4. rock — a stone
  5. bass — low music
  6. current — electric
  7. staff — a stick
  8. bass — the fish
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. mark — a trace
  11. bulb — for light
  12. chip — to eat
  13. can — a tin
  14. current — of water
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. chip — for betting
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. bulb — for light
  19. rock — music
  20. can — to be able to
  21. staff — employees
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. staff — employees
  24. chip — in a computer

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