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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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. rule — a law
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. rule — government
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. toast — bread
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. charge — a price
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. charge — in control
  18. rule — to rule out
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. charge — electricity
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. arm — part of the body

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