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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: pass · current · nail · suit · field · rash · bulb · sharp

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. field — for sport
  3. current — of water
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. suit — in cards
  7. rash — hasty
  8. sharp — clever
  9. rash — a series
  10. pass — a permit
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. bulb — for light
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. field — a subject
  18. bulb — for light
  19. suit — to fit
  20. suit — clothes
  21. field — farmland
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. current — happening now

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