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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: pound · bay · current · rock · patient · bulb · rest · pass

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. rest — a break
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. pound — a weight
  7. rock — a stone
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. rest — what's left
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. rest — what's left
  12. pass — a permit
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. pound — to hit hard
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bulb — for light
  18. rock — music
  19. current — of water
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. current — happening now

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