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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 120 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: bulb · cabinet · sharp · vault · temple · current · can · charge

  1. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. can — a tin
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. sharp — clever
  6. charge — electricity
  7. bulb — for light
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. current — happening now
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. charge — in control
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. current — electric
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. charge — a price
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. current — of water
  20. vault — a safe
  21. bulb — for light
  22. can — a tin
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. can — to be able to

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