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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.

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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 · firm · degree · dip · last · charge · lash · leaves

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. False peace will not ________________.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. charge — a price
  3. dip — to sink
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. last — to go on
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. firm — decided
  8. charge — in control
  9. firm — a company
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. current — of water
  13. degree — temperature
  14. charge — electricity
  15. last — final
  16. last — finally
  17. current — happening now
  18. degree — an amount
  19. current — electric
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. degree — from a university
  23. firm — steady
  24. leaves — lets stay

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