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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. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. charge — electricity
  4. board — a committee
  5. bound — obliged
  6. bound — tied together
  7. file — a tool
  8. cue — a hint
  9. charge — in control
  10. pop — to visit
  11. cue — for pool
  12. board — to get on
  13. bound — certain
  14. pop — soda
  15. snap — to click
  16. cue — a signal
  17. charge — a price
  18. rash — a series
  19. rash — hasty
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. file — a line of people
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. pop — music

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