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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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. foot — a measure
  3. row — to paddle
  4. mug — to rob
  5. cap — a lid
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. current — happening now
  8. cap — a hat
  9. charge — electricity
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. row — a line
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. mug — a cup
  15. current — of water
  16. charge — a price
  17. board — a committee
  18. mine — for digging
  19. current — electric
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. board — to get on
  22. cap — of ice
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. mug — a face

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