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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. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. bass — low music
  3. scale — size or range
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. charge — in control
  9. current — electric
  10. mate — a partner
  11. current — of water
  12. bass — the fish
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. mate — a friend
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. mate — to breed
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. charge — a price
  21. scale — in music
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. current — happening now
  24. temple — a place of worship

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