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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. spell — a short time
  3. tube — the underground
  4. scale — size or range
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. charge — a price
  7. spell — letters
  8. pound — for dogs
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. last — finally
  12. spell — magic
  13. lean — thin
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. tube — a container
  17. scale — in music
  18. pound — to hit hard
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. last — to go on
  21. lean — to bend
  22. charge — electricity
  23. last — final
  24. pound — a weight

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