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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. current — electric
  3. charge — electricity
  4. bat — the animal
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. bat — in an idiom
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. season — in sport
  9. charge — in control
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. current — of water
  16. bore — to tire
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. bore — to drill
  21. bat — for baseball
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. charge — a price
  24. season — of the year

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