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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. current — electric
  3. board — a committee
  4. sharp — clever
  5. root — the cause
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. charge — electricity
  10. root — of a plant
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. rock — music
  13. current — happening now
  14. charge — a price
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. mine — for digging
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. dip — to sink
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. board — to get on
  21. current — of water
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. root — of a word
  24. charge — in control

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