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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: object · bulb · ground · foot · current · fine · suit · tear

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  15. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. suit — in cards
  3. foot — a measure
  4. ground — the earth
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. bulb — for light
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. fine — all right
  9. current — happening now
  10. ground — a position
  11. tear — from crying
  12. object — to protest
  13. current — of water
  14. tear — from crying
  15. tear — to rip
  16. current — electric
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. object — an aim
  19. suit — clothes
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. object — a thing
  22. suit — to fit
  23. fine — high quality
  24. ground — crushed

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