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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: roll · pit · pitcher · mine · bulb · bat · current · racket

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. bat — the animal
  4. bulb — for light
  5. current — electric
  6. current — happening now
  7. bat — for baseball
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. current — of water
  14. roll — a list
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. roll — a cake
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. pit — a hole
  21. mine — for digging
  22. bulb — for light
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. bat — in an idiom

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