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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: rush · rest · bulb · can · rash · current · fan · mug

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. rest — what's left
  3. current — of water
  4. rash — hasty
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. current — happening now
  9. mug — a face
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. can — to be able to
  12. rest — a break
  13. mug — to rob
  14. current — electric
  15. rush — hurry
  16. bulb — for light
  17. can — a tin
  18. can — a tin
  19. bulb — for light
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. rest — what's left
  23. rash — a series
  24. fan — a supporter

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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