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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 120 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 ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. charge — in control
  3. charge — a price
  4. mate — a friend
  5. charge — electricity
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. perch — the fish
  10. mate — to breed
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. bass — the fish
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. mate — a partner
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. snap — to click
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. bass — low music
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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