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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. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. charge — in control
  3. current — of water
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. straw — dry grass
  6. current — happening now
  7. charge — a price
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. straw — a straw man
  10. board — a committee
  11. straw — to clutch at straws
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. mine — for digging
  16. charge — electricity
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. current — electric
  24. calf — a young animal

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