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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. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. can — to be able to
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. mate — to breed
  6. season — in sport
  7. tube — the underground
  8. charge — a price
  9. season — of the year
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. can — a tin
  12. mate — a partner
  13. current — happening now
  14. current — of water
  15. tube — a container
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. current — electric
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. charge — in control
  21. mate — a friend
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. can — a tin

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