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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 · chair · deal · toast · foot · calf · charge · season

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. season — in sport
  3. toast — bread
  4. charge — in control
  5. deal — to handle
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. charge — a price
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. season — of the year
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. chair — a professorship
  16. charge — electricity
  17. current — electric
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. current — of water
  20. foot — a measure
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. chair — to sit on
  23. chair — a leader
  24. deal — an agreement

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