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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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: current · bulb · fall · racket · pop · mouse · temple · present

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. pop — to visit
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. racket — a loud noise
  5. bulb — for light
  6. pop — music
  7. fall — to drop
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. present — the time now
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. current — electric
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. fall — to drop
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. present — a gift
  19. current — happening now
  20. bulb — for light
  21. fall — the season
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. present — there
  24. pop — soda

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