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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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. charge — a price
  3. cap — of ice
  4. key — for a lock
  5. fine — high quality
  6. cap — a lid
  7. file — a tool
  8. key — the most important part
  9. charge — in control
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. staff — a stick
  12. charge — electricity
  13. cap — a hat
  14. file — a document
  15. staff — employees
  16. key — in music
  17. branch — a division
  18. suit — in cards
  19. file — a line of people
  20. staff — employees
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. fine — all right
  23. suit — to fit
  24. fine — a penalty

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