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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 120 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 tickets are free of ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  11. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  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. charge — a price
  2. can — a tin
  3. staff — a stick
  4. charge — in control
  5. content — happy
  6. mark — a grade
  7. charge — electricity
  8. bear — the animal
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. content — the amount
  11. content — videos and posts
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. mate — a partner
  14. mark — a trace
  15. bear — the animal
  16. can — a tin
  17. staff — employees
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. mate — to breed
  20. staff — employees
  21. can — to be able to
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  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