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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. kick — in football
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. current — electric
  5. charge — in control
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. pitch — completely
  8. charge — electricity
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. land — to come down
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. perch — the fish
  15. branch — a division
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. land — a country
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. current — happening now
  21. land — ground
  22. charge — a price
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. kick — with a leg

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