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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. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. last — finally
  3. chip — for betting
  4. charge — electricity
  5. bear — the animal
  6. can — a tin
  7. track — a path
  8. current — electric
  9. bulb — for light
  10. chip — to eat
  11. track — to keep track
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. charge — a price
  14. bulb — for light
  15. last — to go on
  16. track — a song
  17. current — happening now
  18. current — of water
  19. can — a tin
  20. bear — the animal
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. can — to be able to
  24. last — final

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