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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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. charge — in control
  3. mug — to rob
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. file — a line of people
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. object — a thing
  9. charge — a price
  10. charge — electricity
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. current — happening now
  13. bound — certain
  14. current — of water
  15. mug — a face
  16. current — electric
  17. bound — obliged
  18. file — a tool
  19. file — a document
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. mug — a cup
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. bound — tied together
  24. object — to protest

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