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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. current — of water
  3. current — electric
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. wake — a trail
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. net — in sport
  13. net — for catching
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. bass — low music
  16. current — happening now
  17. charge — a price
  18. charge — electricity
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. bass — the fish
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. net — after costs
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. bass — the instrument

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