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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. current — happening now
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. staff — a stick
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. staff — employees
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. game — a kind of play
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. staff — employees
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. game — a match
  14. charge — electricity
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. pop — to visit
  17. current — electric
  18. game — wild animals
  19. pop — soda
  20. pass — a permit
  21. charge — a price
  22. pop — music
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. current — of water

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