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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. current — of water
  3. stand — to bear
  4. charge — a price
  5. content — happy
  6. current — happening now
  7. rest — a break
  8. content — the amount
  9. rest — what's left
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. fine — all right
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. charge — electricity
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. rest — what's left
  19. current — electric
  20. charge — in control
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. fine — high quality

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