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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: safe · scale · current · cabinet · charge · present · prune · saw

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. current — electric
  4. prune — to trim
  5. scale — in music
  6. present — there
  7. charge — a price
  8. present — the time now
  9. saw — the tool
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. current — of water
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. prune — to trim
  17. scale — size or range
  18. present — a gift
  19. charge — in control
  20. current — happening now
  21. charge — electricity
  22. saw — the tool
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. safe — a strongbox

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