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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: current · lie · charge · plane · stock · deal · leaves · pop

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. pop — soda
  3. pop — to visit
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. deal — to handle
  9. lie — to recline
  10. plane — a tool
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. current — happening now
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. current — electric
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. charge — a price
  18. stock — shares
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. stock — goods
  21. charge — electricity
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. current — of water
  24. pop — music

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