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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: snap · charge · leaves · root · current · nail

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. current — happening now
  3. current — of water
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. root — the cause
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. charge — in control
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. root — of a plant
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. charge — electricity
  16. root — of a word
  17. snap — to click
  18. 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