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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 116 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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. charge — in control
  3. rash — hasty
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. wax — to grow
  6. object — to protest
  7. current — happening now
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. object — a thing
  10. current — of water
  11. charge — electricity
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. board — a committee
  14. rash — a series
  15. charge — a price
  16. current — electric
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. object — an aim
  19. fine — all right
  20. fine — high quality
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. board — to get on
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. trunk — of a car

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