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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: pop · bulb · object · current · root · roll · stand · bay

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. pop — soda
  3. pop — to visit
  4. current — happening now
  5. root — of a plant
  6. bulb — for light
  7. current — of water
  8. root — the cause
  9. roll — a list
  10. object — an aim
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. pop — music
  15. stand — to bear
  16. current — electric
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. root — of a word
  20. bulb — for light
  21. object — to protest
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. roll — a cake

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