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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. rush — hurry
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. charge — electricity
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. fine — all right
  8. fine — high quality
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. mark — a trace
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. charge — a price
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. cap — a lid
  17. cap — of ice
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. cap — a hat
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. charge — in control
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. calf — a young animal

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