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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: bulb · current · root · prune · safe · pit · mouse · wax

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. current — happening now
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. current — of water
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. wax — to grow
  7. pit — a hole
  8. pit — in a race
  9. root — the cause
  10. root — of a word
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. prune — to trim
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. bulb — for light
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. prune — to trim
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. current — electric
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. root — of a plant

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