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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: current · ground · bulb · rock · nail · rush · staff · wave

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. current — happening now
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. bulb — for light
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. bulb — for light
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. staff — employees
  13. current — of water
  14. ground — a position
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. rock — a stone
  17. staff — a stick
  18. rock — music
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. current — electric
  21. ground — crushed
  22. rush — hurry
  23. ground — the earth
  24. staff — employees

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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