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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.

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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 · suit · fine · pass · land · lie · stick · charge

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. charge — in control
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. land — a country
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. fine — all right
  8. charge — electricity
  9. suit — to fit
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. land — to come down
  12. current — electric
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. charge — a price
  16. suit — clothes
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. current — happening now
  19. current — of water
  20. pass — a permit
  21. suit — in cards
  22. land — ground
  23. fine — high quality
  24. fine — a penalty

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