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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: rush · cue · tube · race · charge · current · root · mine

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. mine — for digging
  4. charge — electricity
  5. root — of a plant
  6. current — happening now
  7. root — the cause
  8. cue — for pool
  9. current — of water
  10. race — a contest
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. tube — the underground
  13. root — of a word
  14. cue — a hint
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. rush — hurry
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. race — the arms race
  19. tube — a container
  20. race — humankind
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. current — electric
  23. charge — in control
  24. charge — a price

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