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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 124 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. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. bark — a dog's sound
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. charge — a price
  5. current — electric
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. charge — electricity
  10. charge — in control
  11. wake — a trail
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. ball — a great time
  14. bark — of a tree
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. roll — a list
  17. roll — a cake
  18. current — of water
  19. ball — a dance
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. current — happening now
  23. bark — to shout
  24. fan — a supporter

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