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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  17. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  18. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. scale — in music
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. scale — size or range
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. key — in music
  8. charge — a price
  9. charge — electricity
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. suit — in cards
  13. toast — bread
  14. kid — to tease
  15. key — the most important part
  16. kid — child
  17. march — the month
  18. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  19. march — the month
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. suit — to fit
  22. key — for a lock
  23. march — music
  24. suit — clothes

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