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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.

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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: fine · fan · charge · craft · current · last · rock · board

  1. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. last — final
  3. charge — in control
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. fine — all right
  7. current — happening now
  8. current — electric
  9. charge — electricity
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. board — to get on
  12. rock — music
  13. craft — boats
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. rock — a stone
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. charge — a price
  19. last — finally
  20. board — a committee
  21. current — of water
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. fine — high quality
  24. last — to go on

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