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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: saw · cabinet · mouse · pop · spring · current · root · charge

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  10. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. The flowers bloom in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. saw — the tool
  4. saw — the tool
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. current — happening now
  7. root — of a plant
  8. charge — electricity
  9. spring — of water
  10. spring — a coil
  11. pop — music
  12. pop — to visit
  13. current — of water
  14. current — electric
  15. root — the cause
  16. pop — soda
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. root — of a word
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. charge — a price
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. spring — the season

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