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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: tube · pop · bore · cabinet · current · spring · fine · jam

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. bore — to tire
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. current — electric
  6. tube — the underground
  7. spring — of water
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. spring — the season
  10. fine — all right
  11. current — of water
  12. pop — soda
  13. pop — to visit
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. bore — to drill
  17. spring — a coil
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. fine — high quality
  22. tube — a container
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. current — happening now

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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