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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. charge — in control
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. prune — the fruit
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. net — in sport
  10. bound — obliged
  11. bound — tied together
  12. current — happening now
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. net — for catching
  15. bound — certain
  16. prune — to trim
  17. prune — to trim
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. charge — a price
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. charge — electricity
  23. net — after costs
  24. current — of water

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