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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: charge · current · pass · pound · fine · trunk · squash · bound

  1. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. current — electric
  3. pound — for dogs
  4. squash — to crush
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. charge — in control
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. current — of water
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. bound — obliged
  12. fine — all right
  13. current — happening now
  14. bound — certain
  15. bound — tied together
  16. charge — electricity
  17. pass — a permit
  18. pound — a weight
  19. fine — high quality
  20. squash — the sport
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. charge — a price
  23. pound — to hit hard
  24. pass — to succeed

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