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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. suit — to fit
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. ball — a dance
  6. march — music
  7. plane — a tool
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. root — of a word
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. ball — a great time
  12. root — the cause
  13. root — of a plant
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. suit — in cards
  17. suit — clothes
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. charge — electricity
  20. charge — a price
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. march — the month
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. march — the month

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