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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 120 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: current · bulb · wound · mug · root · saw · cue · suit

  1. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. bulb — for light
  3. cue — a hint
  4. suit — to fit
  5. root — the cause
  6. current — of water
  7. current — electric
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. bulb — for light
  11. suit — in cards
  12. mug — to rob
  13. saw — the tool
  14. current — happening now
  15. suit — clothes
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. wound — an injury
  18. cue — a signal
  19. saw — the tool
  20. root — of a word
  21. mug — a cup
  22. root — of a plant
  23. mug — a face
  24. cue — for pool

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