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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 120 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. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. David sat on the ________________.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. lie — to recline
  4. charge — electricity
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. can — a tin
  9. can — to be able to
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. swing — music
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. swing — to play on
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. charge — a price
  17. can — a tin
  18. swing — in golf
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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