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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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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: pass · pitcher · bound · charge · coach · wave · pop · current

  1. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  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. pitcher — a jug
  2. pop — to visit
  3. charge — in control
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. charge — electricity
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. current — electric
  8. pop — soda
  9. bound — certain
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. current — of water
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. pass — a permit
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. pop — music
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. bound — obliged
  21. charge — a price
  22. current — happening now
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. bound — tied together

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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