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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. A ________________ is just a dried plum.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. season — of the year
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. pass — a permit
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. prune — to trim
  9. season — in sport
  10. mark — a grade
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. mark — a trace
  13. prune — to trim
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. charge — a price
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. charge — electricity
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. current — happening now
  20. charge — in control
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. current — electric
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. prune — the fruit

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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