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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. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. degree — from a university
  5. face — part of the head
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. face — to point toward
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. degree — temperature
  10. pass — a permit
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. degree — an amount
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. lean — to bend
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. charge — in control
  19. lean — thin
  20. charge — electricity
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. face — to confront
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. ruler — for measuring

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