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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. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. charge — electricity
  3. craft — boats
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. charge — in control
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. band — a ring
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. current — of water
  12. current — happening now
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. craft — a skill
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. charge — a price
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. band — a music group
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. bear — the animal
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. bear — the animal
  24. current — electric

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