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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: fine · charge · ground · pass · spring · current · chip · pitcher

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. The flowers bloom in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. spring — of water
  3. pass — a permit
  4. charge — electricity
  5. charge — a price
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. fine — all right
  8. current — electric
  9. charge — in control
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. ground — a position
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. current — of water
  14. ground — crushed
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. chip — for betting
  17. spring — a coil
  18. chip — to eat
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. current — happening now
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. fine — high quality
  24. spring — the season

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