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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
468
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: leaves · jam · calf · charge · current · craft · bass · mine

  1. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. mine — for digging
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. current — of water
  4. charge — a price
  5. current — electric
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. current — happening now
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. bass — the fish
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. craft — a handicraft
  19. bass — low music
  20. craft — a skill
  21. charge — in control
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. craft — boats
  24. charge — electricity

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