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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: toast · lash · bulb · prune · jam · racket · current · deal

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  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 — of water
  2. deal — to handle
  3. current — electric
  4. bulb — for light
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. toast — bread
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. prune — to trim
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. prune — to trim
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. toast — the most admired
  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