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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. charge — in control
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. stem — to come from
  7. current — happening now
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. suit — clothes
  11. charge — a price
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. suit — to fit
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. current — electric
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. current — of water
  18. mine — for digging
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. charge — electricity
  24. calf — of the leg

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