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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 · pop · charge · suit · current · cue · bore · arm

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. cue — a hint
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. current — of water
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. suit — to fit
  8. current — electric
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. suit — clothes
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. bore — to tire
  13. bore — to drill
  14. pop — soda
  15. suit — in cards
  16. charge — in control
  17. charge — a price
  18. cue — a signal
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. current — happening now
  21. cue — for pool
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. pop — music
  24. pop — to visit

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