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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: current · sharp · saw · dip · bulb · bowl · wound · cue

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. dip — to sink
  3. cue — a hint
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. wound — an injury
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. bulb — for light
  9. current — of water
  10. current — electric
  11. cue — for pool
  12. sharp — clever
  13. bulb — for light
  14. saw — the tool
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. cue — a signal
  18. wound — an injury
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. saw — the tool

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