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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. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. current — electric
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. current — of water
  8. charge — electricity
  9. mate — a partner
  10. mate — to breed
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. file — a line of people
  14. pitch — completely
  15. charge — a price
  16. file — a document
  17. bulb — for light
  18. current — happening now
  19. charge — in control
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. mate — a friend
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. dip — to sink

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