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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. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  19. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  24. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. fork — to eat with
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. season — in sport
  6. charge — electricity
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. charge — in control
  9. fork — in a road
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. current — of water
  12. bore — to tire
  13. current — electric
  14. chip — for betting
  15. bore — to drill
  16. current — happening now
  17. chip — to eat
  18. pound — to hit hard
  19. pound — a weight
  20. charge — a price
  21. season — of the year
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. pound — for dogs
  24. fork — a garden tool

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