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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. band — a music group
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. saw — the tool
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. saw — the tool
  10. band — a ring
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. current — electric
  15. current — of water
  16. mark — a trace
  17. charge — electricity
  18. mark — a grade
  19. band — a rubber band
  20. stand — to bear
  21. charge — in control
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. charge — a price

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