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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. charge — in control
  3. can — to be able to
  4. mug — a face
  5. cue — a hint
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. mark — a trace
  8. mug — to rob
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. mark — a grade
  11. cue — a signal
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. cue — for pool
  15. charge — electricity
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. mug — a cup
  18. prune — to trim
  19. can — a tin
  20. charge — a price
  21. prune — to trim
  22. stand — to bear
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. stand — for spectators

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