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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. land — to come down
  3. pitch — completely
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. charge — in control
  7. suit — in cards
  8. shower — rain
  9. suit — to fit
  10. key — the most important part
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. key — for a lock
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. charge — a price
  15. can — a tin
  16. shower — to wash
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. key — in music
  19. can — to be able to
  20. land — ground
  21. suit — clothes
  22. charge — electricity
  23. stand — to bear
  24. land — a country

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