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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.

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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 · root · rash · safe · cue · present · sharp · bulb

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bulb — for light
  3. rash — a series
  4. sharp — clever
  5. root — the cause
  6. bulb — for light
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. current — of water
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. current — happening now
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. cue — a signal
  13. current — electric
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. present — there
  16. root — of a plant
  17. present — the time now
  18. root — of a word
  19. present — a gift
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. rash — hasty
  22. cue — for pool
  23. cue — a hint
  24. sharp — with an edge

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