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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: club · charge · fine · bound · current · face · craft · safe

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. club — for golf
  3. current — happening now
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. club — a group
  6. current — electric
  7. charge — electricity
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. face — part of the head
  11. bound — obliged
  12. fine — high quality
  13. face — to confront
  14. craft — boats
  15. current — of water
  16. fine — all right
  17. charge — in control
  18. bound — certain
  19. craft — a skill
  20. charge — a price
  21. face — to point toward
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. club — for dancing
  24. bound — tied together

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