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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 120 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. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. mug — to rob
  3. ground — a position
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. charge — a price
  9. bear — the animal
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. mug — a cup
  12. bass — low music
  13. current — of water
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. bear — the animal
  17. charge — electricity
  18. current — happening now
  19. current — electric
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. mug — a face
  22. ground — the earth
  23. bass — the fish
  24. ground — crushed

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