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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. pound — for dogs
  3. current — happening now
  4. suit — clothes
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. wake — a trail
  8. staff — employees
  9. suit — to fit
  10. pound — to hit hard
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. staff — a stick
  14. charge — a price
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. suit — in cards
  18. charge — in control
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. charge — electricity
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. current — of water
  23. staff — employees
  24. pound — a weight

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