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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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. charge — a price
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. fork — in a road
  7. spring — a coil
  8. rock — music
  9. cue — a hint
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. spring — of water
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. spring — the season
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. bore — to tire
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. charge — electricity
  19. rock — a stone
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. cue — for pool
  22. cue — a signal
  23. bore — to drill
  24. leaves — lets stay

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