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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 120 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: racket · charge · lie · fan · firm · mark · current · leaves

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. charge — electricity
  3. charge — a price
  4. lie — to recline
  5. current — happening now
  6. current — of water
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. firm — decided
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. current — electric
  12. firm — steady
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. firm — a company
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. charge — in control
  19. mark — a trace
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. mark — a grade

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