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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. current — electric
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. object — to protest
  6. current — happening now
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. bore — to tire
  9. bore — to drill
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. current — of water
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. charge — electricity
  17. mine — for digging
  18. object — an aim
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. charge — a price
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. object — a thing

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