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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: cabinet · craft · current · ball · jam · charge · foot · kick

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. craft — boats
  3. ball — a dance
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. kick — with a leg
  6. charge — in control
  7. kick — in football
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. current — happening now
  10. charge — a price
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. charge — electricity
  13. foot — a measure
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. craft — a handicraft
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. current — of water
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. ball — a great time
  24. craft — a skill

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