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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
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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 · toast · charge · bulb · race · mate · patient · land

  1. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. When are we going to ________________?
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. race — the arms race
  2. mate — a friend
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. charge — in control
  6. land — a country
  7. charge — electricity
  8. toast — bread
  9. land — ground
  10. bulb — for light
  11. current — of water
  12. charge — a price
  13. land — to come down
  14. current — happening now
  15. current — electric
  16. bulb — for light
  17. mate — a partner
  18. race — humankind
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. race — a contest
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. mate — to breed
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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