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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. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. cap — a lid
  3. current — happening now
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. perch — the fish
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. can — a tin
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. branch — a division
  11. charge — a price
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. current — electric
  14. charge — in control
  15. branch — of a tree
  16. cap — of ice
  17. charge — electricity
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. can — a tin
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. current — of water
  22. can — to be able to
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. pitcher — a jug

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