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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: mug · coach · charge · pitcher · current · swing · object · bay

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. object — to protest
  3. mug — to rob
  4. current — happening now
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. charge — in control
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. swing — music
  12. charge — a price
  13. mug — a cup
  14. object — a thing
  15. charge — electricity
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. mug — a face
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. object — an aim
  20. swing — to play on
  21. current — of water
  22. swing — in golf
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. bay — a horse colour

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