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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: bulb · stem · charge · current · mouse · wake · tube · press

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. bulb — for light
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. bulb — for light
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. tube — the underground
  7. current — electric
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. charge — in control
  12. current — of water
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. press — to push
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. wake — a trail
  17. tube — a container
  18. charge — electricity
  19. charge — a price
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. stem — to come from
  22. current — happening now
  23. press — newspapers
  24. press — a publisher

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