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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 116 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: prune · cap · current · drill · charge · pitch · mug · patient

  1. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. current — of water
  3. mug — to rob
  4. mug — a cup
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. charge — in control
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. prune — to trim
  9. cap — a lid
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. drill — a practice
  13. cap — a hat
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. current — electric
  16. current — happening now
  17. mug — a face
  18. charge — electricity
  19. drill — army training
  20. pitch — completely
  21. drill — the tool
  22. prune — to trim
  23. charge — a price
  24. cap — of ice

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