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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 · rock · spring · charge · mug · track · land · race

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. When are we going to ________________?
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. current — of water
  3. spring — a coil
  4. mug — a cup
  5. mug — to rob
  6. spring — the season
  7. charge — in control
  8. spring — of water
  9. charge — electricity
  10. race — humankind
  11. track — a path
  12. track — to keep track
  13. current — happening now
  14. charge — a price
  15. rock — music
  16. land — a country
  17. mug — a face
  18. track — a song
  19. race — a contest
  20. land — ground
  21. land — to come down
  22. current — electric
  23. race — the arms race
  24. rock — to move gently

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