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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 116 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: current · charge · patient · leaves · wax · scale · cap · spell

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. cap — a lid
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. scale — in music
  6. cap — a hat
  7. cap — of ice
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. scale — size or range
  11. charge — electricity
  12. spell — magic
  13. current — electric
  14. charge — in control
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. current — happening now
  18. spell — letters
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. wax — to grow
  21. charge — a price
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. spell — a short time

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