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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
468
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: fork · pit · bulb · current · band · safe · drill · tube

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. pit — in a race
  3. bulb — for light
  4. current — of water
  5. fork — in a road
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. bulb — for light
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. band — a ring
  12. drill — a practice
  13. tube — a container
  14. pit — a hole
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. current — electric
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. drill — the tool
  20. band — a music group
  21. tube — the underground
  22. drill — army training
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. safe — a strongbox

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