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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: pitcher · current · shower · hide · charge · wax · leaves · stick

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. charge — in control
  4. shower — to wash
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. wax — to grow
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. current — of water
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. charge — a price
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. current — happening now
  18. shower — rain
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. charge — electricity
  22. current — electric
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. hide — to keep secret

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