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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. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. rock — a stone
  3. charge — a price
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. fine — all right
  7. current — happening now
  8. charge — in control
  9. bat — in an idiom
  10. fine — high quality
  11. object — an aim
  12. mate — a friend
  13. bat — the animal
  14. charge — electricity
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. current — electric
  18. mate — a partner
  19. bat — for baseball
  20. object — a thing
  21. current — of water
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. mate — to breed
  24. rock — music

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