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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 116 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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. charge — electricity
  4. charge — a price
  5. mark — a trace
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. hand — in cards
  8. suit — in cards
  9. mark — a grade
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. suit — clothes
  12. charge — in control
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. present — a gift
  17. branch — a division
  18. suit — to fit
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. stand — to bear
  21. hand — help
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. present — there

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