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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.

Words on the sheet
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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 · staff · last · press · current · drill · bass · nail

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. False peace will not ________________.
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. bulb — for light
  5. bass — the fish
  6. current — of water
  7. press — newspapers
  8. staff — employees
  9. drill — a practice
  10. bass — low music
  11. press — a publisher
  12. press — to push
  13. last — to go on
  14. last — final
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. bulb — for light
  17. drill — the tool
  18. last — finally
  19. current — electric
  20. staff — a stick
  21. current — happening now
  22. staff — employees
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. nail — for a hammer

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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