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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 116 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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. cue — for pool
  3. cue — a hint
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. net — after costs
  6. charge — a price
  7. bulb — for light
  8. rash — hasty
  9. current — of water
  10. scale — in music
  11. net — for catching
  12. charge — in control
  13. bulb — for light
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. current — electric
  17. net — in sport
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. current — happening now
  20. scale — size or range
  21. charge — electricity
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. cue — a signal
  24. rash — a series

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