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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. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. charge — a price
  6. mark — a grade
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. deal — to handle
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. charge — in control
  15. net — for catching
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. net — after costs
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. charge — electricity
  20. net — in sport
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. stand — to bear
  24. mark — a trace

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