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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: wind · cabinet · perch · deal · mark · rock · current · bulb

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. deal — to handle
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. current — of water
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. perch — the fish
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. wind — to turn a key
  10. mark — a grade
  11. wind — moving air
  12. current — happening now
  13. rock — a stone
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. rock — music
  17. wind — moving air
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. bulb — for light
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. current — electric
  24. bulb — for light

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