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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: track · bass · net · bulb · deal · toast · charge · current

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. current — of water
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. bass — low music
  5. bulb — for light
  6. net — for catching
  7. charge — electricity
  8. bulb — for light
  9. deal — to handle
  10. track — a path
  11. current — electric
  12. charge — a price
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. charge — in control
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. track — to keep track
  20. track — a song
  21. net — after costs
  22. toast — bread
  23. bass — the fish
  24. net — in sport

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