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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 116 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. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. spell — magic
  3. charge — electricity
  4. bound — tied together
  5. charge — a price
  6. current — electric
  7. bound — certain
  8. spell — a short time
  9. current — of water
  10. bat — for baseball
  11. pop — music
  12. current — happening now
  13. can — a tin
  14. bound — obliged
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. can — to be able to
  17. pop — soda
  18. spell — letters
  19. bat — the animal
  20. pop — to visit
  21. charge — in control
  22. bat — in an idiom
  23. can — a tin
  24. nail — for a hammer

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