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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 · cabinet · charge · current · last · straw · spell · pitch

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. False peace will not ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. spell — a short time
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. spell — magic
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. straw — a straw man
  8. current — happening now
  9. last — to go on
  10. current — electric
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. straw — dry grass
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. straw — to clutch at straws
  15. charge — electricity
  16. spell — letters
  17. last — finally
  18. charge — in control
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. charge — a price
  21. current — of water
  22. last — final
  23. pitch — completely
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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