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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  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. charge — in control
  2. current — happening now
  3. bore — to tire
  4. current — of water
  5. object — a thing
  6. track — a song
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. current — electric
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. charge — a price
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. track — a path
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. charge — electricity
  17. object — an aim
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. track — to keep track
  20. hand — help
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. hand — in cards
  23. bore — to drill
  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