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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.

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: leaves · current · tube · pound · root · cabinet · bulb · snap

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. pound — a weight
  3. tube — the underground
  4. current — happening now
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. snap — to click
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. root — of a plant
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. bulb — for light
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. current — electric
  14. root — the cause
  15. pound — to hit hard
  16. current — of water
  17. snap — to snap out of it
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. bulb — for light
  20. root — of a word
  21. pound — for dogs
  22. tube — a container
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. tube — in a tire

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