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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. bank — of a river
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. scale — in music
  5. bank — for money
  6. mug — a face
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. dip — to sink
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. charge — electricity
  13. scale — size or range
  14. kick — with a leg
  15. mug — to rob
  16. bank — for money
  17. current — happening now
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. mug — a cup
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. charge — a price
  22. charge — in control
  23. current — electric
  24. current — of water

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