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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: rest · current · firm · bulb · mouse · season · cue · game

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. rest — what's left
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. bulb — for light
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. current — happening now
  7. current — of water
  8. rest — a break
  9. game — wild animals
  10. season — of the year
  11. cue — a hint
  12. season — in sport
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. rest — what's left
  15. current — electric
  16. firm — steady
  17. firm — decided
  18. firm — a company
  19. cue — a signal
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. cue — for pool
  22. bulb — for light
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. game — a match

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