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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.

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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: patient · staff · foot · track · charge · saw · suit · current

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. charge — electricity
  3. track — a path
  4. staff — employees
  5. saw — the tool
  6. charge — a price
  7. staff — employees
  8. track — to keep track
  9. current — of water
  10. saw — the tool
  11. current — electric
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. suit — in cards
  15. charge — in control
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. suit — clothes
  18. foot — a measure
  19. track — a song
  20. staff — a stick
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. suit — to fit
  24. current — happening now

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