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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: scale · bulb · firm · ball · current · root · chair · leaves

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. chair — a professorship
  3. ball — a great time
  4. root — the cause
  5. ball — a dance
  6. current — happening now
  7. root — of a plant
  8. bulb — for light
  9. firm — a company
  10. scale — in music
  11. chair — a leader
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. chair — to sit on
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. root — of a word
  16. scale — size or range
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. firm — steady
  19. bulb — for light
  20. firm — decided
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. current — of water
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. current — electric

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