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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. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. squash — the sport
  3. roll — a cake
  4. bank — of a river
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. charge — electricity
  7. roll — a list
  8. charge — a price
  9. pass — a permit
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. mug — a face
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. bank — for money
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. bank — for money
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. squash — to crush
  21. mug — a cup
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. mug — to rob
  24. pass — to spend time

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