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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. charge — electricity
  7. current — electric
  8. spell — letters
  9. charge — a price
  10. pitch — completely
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. charge — in control
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. current — happening now
  19. spell — magic
  20. stand — to bear
  21. spell — a short time
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. deal — to handle
  24. pitcher — a jug

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