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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. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. charge — in control
  3. scale — size or range
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. clip — for paper
  6. scale — in music
  7. staff — employees
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. shower — to wash
  12. charge — a price
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. clip — a video
  15. charge — electricity
  16. shower — rain
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. staff — a stick
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. staff — employees
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. toast — bread
  23. clip — to cut
  24. safe — out of danger

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