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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: key · staff · lie · bulb · rush · chip · pit · current

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. chip — for betting
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. chip — to eat
  5. lie — to recline
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. bulb — for light
  8. key — the most important part
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. key — in music
  12. current — of water
  13. staff — employees
  14. pit — in a race
  15. staff — a stick
  16. pit — a hole
  17. rush — hurry
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. key — for a lock
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. staff — employees
  22. current — electric
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. bulb — for light

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