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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 116 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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. mark — a grade
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. mate — to breed
  6. root — of a plant
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. net — after costs
  9. charge — a price
  10. snap — to click
  11. mug — to rob
  12. mark — a trace
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. net — in sport
  15. mug — a face
  16. net — for catching
  17. mate — a partner
  18. root — the cause
  19. mug — a cup
  20. root — of a word
  21. charge — electricity
  22. mate — a friend
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. sharp — clever

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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