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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. march — the month
  3. current — of water
  4. charge — in control
  5. capital — a big letter
  6. rash — hasty
  7. rash — a series
  8. march — music
  9. capital — money
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. current — electric
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. charge — electricity
  16. capital — a city
  17. hand — in cards
  18. charge — a price
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. hand — help
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. pass — a permit
  23. current — happening now
  24. march — the month

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