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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. charge — a price
  3. game — a match
  4. charge — in control
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. suit — to fit
  7. bass — low music
  8. game — wild animals
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. key — in music
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. toast — bread
  13. bass — the fish
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. pit — a hole
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. key — the most important part
  19. key — for a lock
  20. suit — clothes
  21. charge — electricity
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. perch — the fish
  24. pit — in a race

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