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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: fine · board · current · key · spring · staff · charge · pop

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. pop — soda
  3. pop — music
  4. fine — high quality
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. charge — electricity
  7. pop — to visit
  8. current — happening now
  9. staff — employees
  10. spring — of water
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. key — in music
  13. key — for a lock
  14. fine — all right
  15. charge — a price
  16. spring — a coil
  17. spring — the season
  18. staff — employees
  19. charge — in control
  20. staff — a stick
  21. board — to get on
  22. board — a committee
  23. current — of water
  24. key — the most important part

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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