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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.

Make a worksheet

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: leaves · current · firm · stick · charge · cap · season · rest

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. current — of water
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. cap — a hat
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. rest — a break
  7. cap — of ice
  8. season — of the year
  9. firm — steady
  10. season — in sport
  11. firm — a company
  12. current — electric
  13. firm — decided
  14. rest — what's left
  15. rest — what's left
  16. charge — electricity
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. charge — a price
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. cap — a lid
  22. charge — in control
  23. current — happening now
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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