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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: nail · current · straw · bulb · swing · arm · suit · ruler

  1. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. David sat on the ________________.
  11. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. bulb — for light
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. suit — clothes
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. current — happening now
  7. suit — to fit
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. swing — to play on
  11. straw — a straw man
  12. current — of water
  13. swing — in golf
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. straw — to clutch at straws
  16. current — electric
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. suit — in cards
  24. arm — part of the body

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