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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: club · lie · current · charge · mark · mate · nail · fine

  1. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  18. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. club — for golf
  2. charge — a price
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. current — happening now
  5. mate — to breed
  6. mark — a grade
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. charge — in control
  9. mark — a trace
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. current — of water
  13. charge — electricity
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. lie — to recline
  17. club — a group
  18. club — for dancing
  19. fine — all right
  20. fine — high quality
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. current — electric
  23. mate — a partner
  24. mate — a friend

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