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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
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: current · cabinet · racket · court · bowl · charge · cue · arm

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  23. The ball is in your ________________.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. cue — for pool
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. court — of law
  5. cue — a hint
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. current — of water
  8. charge — a price
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. charge — in control
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. current — electric
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. charge — electricity
  16. current — happening now
  17. cue — a signal
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. court — of a king
  23. court — for sport
  24. arm — part of the body

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