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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. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. cue — a signal
  3. can — a tin
  4. can — a tin
  5. charge — in control
  6. firm — steady
  7. bear — the animal
  8. wound — an injury
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. can — to be able to
  11. firm — a company
  12. board — a committee
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. bear — the animal
  16. charge — electricity
  17. wound — an injury
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. board — to get on
  20. cue — a hint
  21. firm — decided
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. cue — for pool

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