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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: current · fine · snap · mine · bulb · ball · pit · craft

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. current — of water
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. pit — a hole
  7. ball — a dance
  8. ball — a great time
  9. pit — in a race
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. current — happening now
  12. fine — all right
  13. snap — to click
  14. bulb — for light
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. craft — boats
  21. mine — for digging
  22. fine — high quality
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. craft — a skill

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