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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
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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: lie · arm · mark · current · present · content · bass · charge

  1. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. content — the amount
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. current — electric
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. content — happy
  6. lie — to recline
  7. charge — a price
  8. mark — a trace
  9. charge — in control
  10. content — videos and posts
  11. mark — a grade
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. current — of water
  16. present — a gift
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. bass — the fish
  19. present — the time now
  20. current — happening now
  21. bass — low music
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. charge — electricity
  24. present — there

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