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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: rush · suit · charge · saw · stick · current · bulb · fine

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. saw — the tool
  3. rush — hurry
  4. current — of water
  5. fine — high quality
  6. current — electric
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. current — happening now
  9. suit — clothes
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. charge — a price
  12. bulb — for light
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. fine — all right
  15. charge — electricity
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. suit — to fit
  19. bulb — for light
  20. stick — to attach or keep to
  21. suit — in cards
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. charge — in control
  24. bulb — of a plant

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