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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 120 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.

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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: key · ruler · march · court · charge · pitcher · mark · current

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. court — of law
  3. charge — in control
  4. mark — a trace
  5. march — the month
  6. current — of water
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. key — the most important part
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. mark — a grade
  12. charge — electricity
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. charge — a price
  16. court — for sport
  17. key — for a lock
  18. march — the month
  19. court — of a king
  20. current — electric
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. march — music
  23. current — happening now
  24. ruler — a monarch

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