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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 · charge · vault · mug · cabinet · scale · rest · current

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. mug — a face
  3. scale — in music
  4. charge — electricity
  5. current — of water
  6. vault — a safe
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. scale — size or range
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. rest — what's left
  11. rest — what's left
  12. charge — in control
  13. current — happening now
  14. mug — to rob
  15. vault — an arched ceiling
  16. mug — a cup
  17. rush — hurry
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. charge — a price
  20. current — electric
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. rest — a break
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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