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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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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: snap · hand · lie · safe · rash · charge · current · rush

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  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. charge — a price
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. charge — in control
  4. hand — help
  5. lie — to recline
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. rush — hurry
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. current — electric
  12. rash — a series
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. snap — to click
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. rash — hasty
  17. charge — electricity
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. current — of water
  21. hand — in cards
  22. current — happening now
  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