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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: charge · current · spell · hand · scale · rush · cue · safe

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. current — of water
  3. current — happening now
  4. cue — for pool
  5. cue — a hint
  6. scale — size or range
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. hand — in cards
  9. scale — in music
  10. spell — a short time
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. spell — letters
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. current — electric
  18. charge — in control
  19. cue — a signal
  20. hand — help
  21. spell — magic
  22. charge — electricity
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. charge — a price

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