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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 120 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. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. cap — a hat
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. rest — what's left
  5. file — a document
  6. deal — to handle
  7. cap — a lid
  8. cue — for pool
  9. current — electric
  10. cue — a signal
  11. charge — a price
  12. rest — a break
  13. file — a tool
  14. rest — what's left
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. cue — a hint
  17. charge — in control
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. charge — electricity
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. current — of water
  22. cap — of ice
  23. file — a line of people
  24. leaves — to go away

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