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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.

Make a worksheet

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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. rest — a break
  5. charge — in control
  6. plane — a tool
  7. mate — a friend
  8. ground — the earth
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. ground — crushed
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. ground — a position
  17. mate — a partner
  18. charge — electricity
  19. charge — a price
  20. mate — to breed
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. rest — what's left
  24. pitcher — a jug

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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