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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. pass — a permit
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. cue — a signal
  5. stand — to bear
  6. game — wild animals
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. cue — for pool
  10. charge — electricity
  11. season — of the year
  12. cue — a hint
  13. charge — in control
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. season — in sport
  18. sharp — clever
  19. game — a match
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. plane — a tool
  24. pass — to succeed

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