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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. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. bound — certain
  3. charge — in control
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. branch — a division
  7. press — a publisher
  8. bound — tied together
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. press — newspapers
  11. mark — a trace
  12. rock — music
  13. press — to push
  14. fine — all right
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. rock — a stone
  18. fine — high quality
  19. charge — a price
  20. bound — obliged
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. mark — a grade

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