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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: current · mouse · wax · cell · charge · last · temple · present

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  4. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  5. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. He was locked up in a ________________.
  11. False peace will not ________________.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  16. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. present — the time now
  4. cell — in biology
  5. last — final
  6. current — of water
  7. wax — to grow
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. cell — in a prison
  11. last — to go on
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. last — finally
  14. current — electric
  15. cell — a phone
  16. present — a gift
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. present — there
  20. charge — a price
  21. charge — electricity
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. current — happening now
  24. mouse — the animal

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