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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 · mine · safe · club · mark · bulb · drill · leaves

  1. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. mine — for digging
  5. drill — army training
  6. bulb — for light
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. mark — a trace
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. current — of water
  11. club — for golf
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. bulb — for light
  14. club — a group
  15. current — happening now
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. current — electric
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. drill — a practice
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. drill — the tool
  23. mark — a grade
  24. club — for dancing

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