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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. charge — a price
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. stand — to bear
  6. foot — a measure
  7. fine — high quality
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. tube — the underground
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. tube — a container
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. rush — hurry
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. charge — in control
  18. fine — all right
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. charge — electricity
  22. current — electric
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. current — happening now

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