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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. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. rock — music
  4. pit — in a race
  5. squash — to crush
  6. charge — in control
  7. charge — electricity
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. rock — a stone
  11. pit — a hole
  12. bear — the animal
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. bear — the animal
  16. fine — high quality
  17. can — a tin
  18. tube — the underground
  19. fine — all right
  20. can — to be able to
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. can — a tin
  23. tube — a container
  24. squash — the sport

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