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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. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  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. pop — to visit
  2. current — happening now
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. band — a music group
  6. perch — the fish
  7. band — a ring
  8. charge — a price
  9. charge — electricity
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. track — a song
  12. pop — music
  13. track — to keep track
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. rush — hurry
  16. track — a path
  17. current — of water
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. current — electric
  20. pop — soda
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. safe — out of danger
  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