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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. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. lie — to recline
  4. rash — a series
  5. last — final
  6. last — to go on
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. spell — a short time
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. charge — a price
  13. charge — in control
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. spell — letters
  17. spell — magic
  18. wake — a trail
  19. last — finally
  20. rash — hasty
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. wake — before a funeral

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