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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 · jam · current · leaves · bulb · degree · pit · nail

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. current — happening now
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. pit — in a race
  8. degree — temperature
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. degree — an amount
  12. current — of water
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. bank — of a river
  16. degree — from a university
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bank — for money
  19. pit — a hole
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. bank — for money
  23. jam — a tight spot
  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