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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  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. current — happening now
  2. root — the cause
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. march — music
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. squash — to crush
  8. charge — electricity
  9. root — of a plant
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. board — to get on
  12. march — the month
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. board — a committee
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. current — electric
  19. squash — the sport
  20. charge — a price
  21. charge — in control
  22. root — of a word
  23. march — the month
  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