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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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. The ball is in your ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. court — for sport
  3. charge — in control
  4. current — electric
  5. suit — clothes
  6. current — of water
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. rock — music
  9. court — of law
  10. bound — obliged
  11. court — of a king
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. season — of the year
  14. suit — in cards
  15. charge — a price
  16. bound — certain
  17. season — in sport
  18. current — happening now
  19. rock — a stone
  20. bound — tied together
  21. charge — electricity
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. suit — to fit
  24. leaves — of a tree

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