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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 116 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. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. firm — decided
  3. charge — in control
  4. current — happening now
  5. current — of water
  6. firm — a company
  7. pop — to visit
  8. spell — letters
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. charge — a price
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. pop — music
  15. pop — soda
  16. charge — electricity
  17. lean — thin
  18. spell — a short time
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. current — electric
  21. lean — to bend
  22. spell — magic
  23. firm — steady
  24. bass — low 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