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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. file — a line of people
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. bound — obliged
  6. chair — a professorship
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. charge — a price
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. file — a tool
  11. current — happening now
  12. bound — tied together
  13. charge — in control
  14. bound — certain
  15. chair — a leader
  16. scale — in music
  17. current — of water
  18. chair — to sit on
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. file — a document
  21. charge — electricity
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. current — electric
  24. pass — a permit

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