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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. board — to get on
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. saw — the tool
  5. wind — to turn a key
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. board — a committee
  10. saw — the tool
  11. mug — a cup
  12. wind — moving air
  13. mug — to rob
  14. fine — all right
  15. charge — a price
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. fine — high quality
  20. wind — moving air
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. mug — a face
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. charge — electricity

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