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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: current · season · cue · object · ball · plane · bulb · wake

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. object — an aim
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. current — electric
  5. cue — a signal
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. cue — for pool
  10. cue — a hint
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bulb — for light
  13. current — of water
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. object — to protest
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. plane — a tool
  18. ball — a great time
  19. wake — a trail
  20. season — of the year
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. season — in sport
  23. ball — a dance
  24. object — a thing

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