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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.

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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: root · current · jam · bulb · perch · bark · wax · roll

  1. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — a dog's sound
  2. current — happening now
  3. roll — a list
  4. root — of a plant
  5. current — of water
  6. roll — a cake
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. bulb — for light
  11. root — the cause
  12. perch — the fish
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. wax — to grow
  15. current — electric
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. bark — to shout
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. bulb — for light
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. root — of a word

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