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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. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. current — of water
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. rush — hurry
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. current — electric
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. charge — a price
  9. current — happening now
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. bulb — for light
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. board — to get on
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. bulb — for light
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. season — of the year
  21. charge — electricity
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. charge — in control
  24. season — in sport

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