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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. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. spring — the season
  4. current — of water
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. charge — electricity
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. chip — for betting
  12. perch — the fish
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. current — happening now
  15. spring — of water
  16. current — electric
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. mark — a grade
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. mark — a trace
  21. charge — in control
  22. toast — bread
  23. charge — a price
  24. chip — to eat

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