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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: rush · pit · chip · mark · board · ruler · charge · current

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. current — electric
  4. charge — a price
  5. chip — to eat
  6. mark — a trace
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. pit — in a race
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. mark — a grade
  13. board — a committee
  14. chip — for betting
  15. charge — electricity
  16. board — to get on
  17. current — happening now
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. pit — a hole
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. current — of water
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. rush — hurry

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