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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. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. game — wild animals
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. ground — a position
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. game — a match
  7. board — a committee
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. mark — a grade
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. ground — the earth
  12. toast — bread
  13. charge — a price
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. perch — the fish
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. foot — a measure
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. charge — electricity
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. mark — a trace
  23. board — to get on
  24. ground — crushed

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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