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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. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. current — of water
  3. dip — to sink
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. current — happening now
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. charge — in control
  12. rash — a series
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. staff — employees
  16. staff — employees
  17. branch — a division
  18. charge — electricity
  19. staff — a stick
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. charge — a price
  22. rash — hasty
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. current — electric

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