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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: ball · current · bulb · branch · bass · rash · bore · pitch

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. bore — to drill
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. rash — a series
  5. ball — a great time
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. branch — a division
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. current — happening now
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. bore — to tire
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. bass — the fish
  14. ball — a dance
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. bass — low music
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. current — of water
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. bulb — for light
  22. rash — hasty
  23. current — electric
  24. bulb — for light

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