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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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. ground — the earth
  5. can — a tin
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. branch — a division
  9. can — to be able to
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. charge — a price
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. ground — crushed
  18. rush — hurry
  19. ground — a position
  20. can — a tin
  21. charge — electricity
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. charge — in control

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