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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. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. charge — in control
  13. bank — for money
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. current — electric
  16. bank — for money
  17. charge — a price
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. charge — electricity
  21. toast — bread
  22. bank — of a river
  23. current — happening now
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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