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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. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. current — electric
  4. charge — electricity
  5. charge — in control
  6. staff — a stick
  7. can — to be able to
  8. pit — in a race
  9. staff — employees
  10. cue — for pool
  11. scale — in music
  12. row — to paddle
  13. current — of water
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. scale — size or range
  17. staff — employees
  18. cue — a hint
  19. current — happening now
  20. pit — a hole
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — a tin
  23. row — a line
  24. cue — a signal

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