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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 116 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. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  5. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. rock — a stone
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. chair — to sit on
  5. last — final
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. rock — music
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. chair — a professorship
  10. last — to go on
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. chair — a leader
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. key — for a lock
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. last — finally
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. charge — in control
  21. key — the most important part
  22. key — in music
  23. charge — a price
  24. racket — a loud noise

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