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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.

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: rest · jam · current · lie · chair · rock · plane · charge

  1. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. chair — a professorship
  2. charge — in control
  3. rest — what's left
  4. charge — electricity
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. rest — a break
  7. rock — music
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. lie — to recline
  11. rest — what's left
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. current — electric
  15. chair — a leader
  16. current — happening now
  17. current — of water
  18. chair — to sit on
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. charge — a price
  21. rock — a stone
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. plane — a tool

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