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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: trunk · current · rash · charge · bear · key · pitch · pit

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. rash — hasty
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. key — the most important part
  7. current — happening now
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. bear — the animal
  10. pit — a hole
  11. charge — electricity
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. key — in music
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. charge — in control
  16. key — for a lock
  17. current — electric
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. pitch — completely
  22. rash — a series
  23. charge — a price
  24. pit — in a race

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