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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: bank · current · net · coach · saw · pitcher · temple · bulb

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. net — for catching
  4. bulb — for light
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. bank — of a river
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. current — happening now
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. current — electric
  13. bank — for money
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. saw — the tool
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. current — of water
  19. bank — for money
  20. net — after costs
  21. saw — the tool
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. net — in sport

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