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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 120 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
468
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: racket · safe · mark · charge · leaves · current · perch · chip

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. chip — for betting
  6. current — of water
  7. charge — a price
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. charge — in control
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. charge — electricity
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. chip — to eat
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. current — electric
  17. mark — a trace
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. mark — a grade
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. perch — the fish
  24. safe — out of danger

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