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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. bound — tied together
  3. bound — obliged
  4. perch — the fish
  5. can — a tin
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. charge — electricity
  9. bound — certain
  10. charge — a price
  11. can — to be able to
  12. chip — to eat
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. cue — a hint
  16. prune — to trim
  17. cue — for pool
  18. charge — in control
  19. can — a tin
  20. chip — for betting
  21. cue — a signal
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. mark — a trace
  24. prune — to trim

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