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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. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. net — in sport
  3. hand — help
  4. mug — a face
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. charge — electricity
  7. saw — the tool
  8. mug — a cup
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. ball — a dance
  11. saw — the tool
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. mug — to rob
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. cue — a hint
  16. net — for catching
  17. net — after costs
  18. cue — for pool
  19. cue — a signal
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. charge — in control
  23. hand — in cards
  24. ball — a great time

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