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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: cap · current · charge · lie · nail · bass · plane · suit

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. cap — a lid
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. cap — a hat
  5. current — electric
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. plane — a tool
  8. bass — low music
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. bass — the fish
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. current — happening now
  13. cap — of ice
  14. current — of water
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. charge — electricity
  17. suit — in cards
  18. charge — a price
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. charge — in control
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. suit — clothes
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. lie — to recline

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