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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
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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: current · temple · vault · spell · track · charge · clip · key

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. spell — magic
  3. track — a path
  4. charge — a price
  5. clip — a video
  6. charge — in control
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. current — electric
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. key — for a lock
  11. track — a song
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. current — happening now
  14. key — in music
  15. spell — letters
  16. spell — a short time
  17. track — to keep track
  18. current — of water
  19. key — the most important part
  20. clip — for paper
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. vault — a safe
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. clip — to cut

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