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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. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. False peace will not ________________.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. charge — in control
  4. net — for catching
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. last — finally
  7. net — after costs
  8. last — to go on
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. bass — the fish
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. can — a tin
  14. charge — a price
  15. can — to be able to
  16. bass — low music
  17. saw — the tool
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. net — in sport
  21. last — final
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. saw — the tool
  24. can — a tin

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