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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. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. rush — hurry
  4. rest — what's left
  5. season — of the year
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. current — of water
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. current — happening now
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. cap — a hat
  12. cap — of ice
  13. season — in sport
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. charge — electricity
  16. charge — in control
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. rest — a break
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. rest — what's left
  21. current — electric
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. cap — a lid

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