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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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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: suit · racket · dip · bulb · current · spell · pass · bore

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. suit — to fit
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. spell — letters
  5. bulb — for light
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. spell — magic
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. suit — in cards
  10. bore — to tire
  11. current — happening now
  12. current — electric
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. spell — a short time
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. dip — to sink
  18. suit — clothes
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. pass — a permit
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. bulb — for light
  24. current — of water

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