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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. pound — to hit hard
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. fine — high quality
  6. charge — in control
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. charge — electricity
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. wax — to grow
  11. current — of water
  12. pound — a weight
  13. charge — a price
  14. current — electric
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. pit — a hole
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. pit — in a race
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. fine — all right
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. pound — for dogs
  24. pitcher — a jug

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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