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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: bat · bound · charge · bay · current · can · fork · sharp

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. can — to be able to
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. bound — tied together
  6. fork — in a road
  7. bound — obliged
  8. sharp — clever
  9. current — happening now
  10. charge — electricity
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. bat — in an idiom
  15. charge — a price
  16. bat — for baseball
  17. can — a tin
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. current — electric
  21. bat — the animal
  22. bound — certain
  23. current — of water
  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