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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 dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. charge — in control
  4. chair — to sit on
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. shower — rain
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. land — ground
  9. land — to come down
  10. pass — a permit
  11. mark — a grade
  12. charge — a price
  13. foot — a measure
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. charge — electricity
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. land — a country
  19. chair — a professorship
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. shower — to wash
  23. mark — a trace
  24. chair — a leader

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