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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: scale · bore · mouse · wake · current · dip · bulb · pitcher

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. scale — in music
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. wake — a trail
  7. bulb — for light
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. current — electric
  10. scale — size or range
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. current — happening now
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. current — of water
  15. bore — to drill
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. bore — to tire
  21. dip — to sink
  22. bulb — for light
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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