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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: cue · safe · current · fan · chip · bulb · scale · court

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. The ball is in your ________________.
  5. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. current — happening now
  4. court — for sport
  5. court — of a king
  6. scale — size or range
  7. court — of law
  8. bulb — for light
  9. chip — for betting
  10. bulb — for light
  11. cue — for pool
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. cue — a hint
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. scale — in music
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. cue — a signal
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. current — of water
  22. chip — to eat
  23. current — electric
  24. safe — out of danger

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