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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 116 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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. key — in music
  4. rush — hurry
  5. key — the most important part
  6. staff — employees
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. staff — employees
  10. key — for a lock
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. cap — a lid
  14. cap — of ice
  15. staff — a stick
  16. charge — a price
  17. sharp — clever
  18. cap — a hat
  19. rock — a stone
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. charge — electricity
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. rock — music

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