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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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. firm — decided
  3. can — a tin
  4. firm — a company
  5. pit — in a race
  6. object — an aim
  7. charge — a price
  8. march — music
  9. pit — a hole
  10. charge — in control
  11. object — to protest
  12. march — the month
  13. board — to get on
  14. can — a tin
  15. can — to be able to
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. current — happening now
  18. charge — electricity
  19. firm — steady
  20. current — of water
  21. current — electric
  22. march — the month
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. board — a committee

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