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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 120 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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. current — happening now
  4. mark — a grade
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. staff — a stick
  8. mark — a trace
  9. prune — to trim
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. charge — in control
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. rush — hurry
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. staff — employees
  17. cue — for pool
  18. charge — a price
  19. charge — electricity
  20. current — of water
  21. staff — employees
  22. cue — a hint
  23. cue — a signal
  24. prune — to trim

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