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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: cue · mark · charge · file · spring · racket · club · current

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. charge — a price
  3. current — electric
  4. file — a document
  5. file — a line of people
  6. spring — a coil
  7. cue — for pool
  8. current — happening now
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. spring — of water
  12. mark — a trace
  13. current — of water
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. mark — a grade
  16. file — a tool
  17. club — for dancing
  18. cue — a hint
  19. spring — the season
  20. charge — electricity
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. club — a group
  23. club — for golf
  24. cue — a signal

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