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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. charge — electricity
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. land — ground
  6. bore — to tire
  7. rush — hurry
  8. charge — in control
  9. bore — to drill
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. land — to come down
  13. board — a committee
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. land — a country
  16. toast — bread
  17. cue — a signal
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. charge — a price
  20. cue — a hint
  21. cue — for pool
  22. board — to get on
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. bore — gave birth

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