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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. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. band — a ring
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. charge — electricity
  7. object — to protest
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. rush — hurry
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. charge — in control
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. date — the fruit
  16. stand — to bear
  17. mark — a grade
  18. object — an aim
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. band — a music group
  23. mark — a trace
  24. object — a thing

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