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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. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. toast — bread
  3. lean — thin
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. can — to be able to
  6. lean — to bend
  7. rock — a stone
  8. charge — a price
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. can — a tin
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. rock — music
  14. can — a tin
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. present — there
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. present — the time now
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. charge — electricity
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. present — a gift
  24. date — the fruit

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