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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 · saw · bulb · arm · charge · rest · mouse · wind

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  10. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. rest — a break
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. current — of water
  5. wind — moving air
  6. rest — what's left
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. saw — the tool
  9. wind — to turn a key
  10. wind — moving air
  11. bulb — for light
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. current — electric
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. charge — in control
  16. bulb — for light
  17. rest — what's left
  18. charge — a price
  19. saw — the tool
  20. charge — electricity
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. current — happening now
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. mouse — the animal

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