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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. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  21. He was locked up in a ________________.
  22. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. face — part of the head
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. mark — a grade
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. charge — a price
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. face — to point toward
  11. mark — a trace
  12. face — to confront
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. wake — a trail
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. charge — electricity
  18. mate — to breed
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. cell — a phone
  21. cell — in a prison
  22. cell — in biology
  23. mate — a friend
  24. mate — a partner

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