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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: mate · current · ball · rash · file · pitch · firm · charge

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. file — a document
  3. current — electric
  4. current — of water
  5. current — happening now
  6. ball — a great time
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. file — a line of people
  9. ball — a dance
  10. firm — steady
  11. mate — a partner
  12. rash — hasty
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. pitch — completely
  15. file — a tool
  16. rash — a series
  17. mate — a friend
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. charge — electricity
  20. charge — in control
  21. firm — a company
  22. firm — decided
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. charge — a price

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