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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 120 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. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. charge — in control
  3. sharp — clever
  4. current — electric
  5. cap — of ice
  6. current — happening now
  7. charge — a price
  8. cue — for pool
  9. ball — a great time
  10. ball — a dance
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. cap — a lid
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. charge — electricity
  16. cap — a hat
  17. cue — a hint
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. current — of water
  22. cue — a signal
  23. squash — the sport
  24. ball — a round shape

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