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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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. present — the time now
  3. pop — to visit
  4. pop — music
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. charge — a price
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. charge — in control
  9. present — there
  10. bore — to drill
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. current — happening now
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. rash — hasty
  15. present — a gift
  16. current — of water
  17. charge — electricity
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. current — electric
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. rash — a series
  23. pop — soda
  24. rush — hurry

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