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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: charge · vault · date · trunk · current · rush · pound · lash

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. charge — a price
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. pound — for dogs
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. charge — in control
  10. vault — a safe
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. pound — a weight
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. current — electric
  17. current — of water
  18. charge — electricity
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. current — happening now
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. date — the fruit
  23. pound — to hit hard
  24. date — on the calendar

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