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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.

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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: dip · current · charge · key · can · mate · content · jam

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. charge — in control
  3. can — a tin
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. charge — a price
  7. key — the most important part
  8. dip — to sink
  9. current — electric
  10. charge — electricity
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. content — happy
  14. current — of water
  15. mate — a friend
  16. key — for a lock
  17. content — videos and posts
  18. can — to be able to
  19. current — happening now
  20. mate — to breed
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. mate — a partner
  23. content — the amount
  24. can — a tin

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