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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: current · degree · safe · rush · cabinet · trunk · bulb · snap

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. degree — an amount
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. snap — to click
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. current — happening now
  11. degree — temperature
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bulb — for light
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. degree — from a university
  17. current — electric
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. rush — hurry
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. safe — a strongbox

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