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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.

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: spell · current · wake · pitch · mark · rush · charge · cap

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. charge — electricity
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. spell — letters
  6. mark — a grade
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. cap — a hat
  9. cap — of ice
  10. current — of water
  11. pitch — completely
  12. charge — a price
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. spell — a short time
  15. cap — a lid
  16. rush — hurry
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. current — electric
  20. charge — in control
  21. spell — magic
  22. mark — a trace
  23. current — happening now
  24. pitch — a sports field

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