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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 116 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: season · craft · current · bat · game · bulb · pass · dip

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. That was a fun ________________.
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. game — a match
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. current — happening now
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. bat — in an idiom
  8. current — of water
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. bulb — for light
  11. game — wild animals
  12. bat — the animal
  13. dip — to sink
  14. craft — boats
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. season — of the year
  17. craft — a skill
  18. bat — for baseball
  19. bulb — for light
  20. season — in sport
  21. current — electric
  22. pass — a permit
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. pass — to spend time

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