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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: sharp · bat · fan · vault · can · suit · current · rush

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. sharp — clever
  3. current — happening now
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. bat — for baseball
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. can — a tin
  12. bat — the animal
  13. suit — clothes
  14. current — of water
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. suit — to fit
  17. can — a tin
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. suit — in cards
  20. rush — hurry
  21. current — electric
  22. bat — in an idiom
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. vault — a safe

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