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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 120 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: bulb · current · pitch · cue · fall · chip · mate · prune

  1. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. bulb — for light
  3. pitch — completely
  4. bulb — for light
  5. cue — a signal
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. chip — to eat
  8. current — of water
  9. cue — for pool
  10. current — happening now
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. current — electric
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. mate — a partner
  17. fall — to drop
  18. chip — for betting
  19. mate — to breed
  20. fall — the season
  21. mate — a friend
  22. fall — to drop
  23. prune — to trim
  24. cue — a hint

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