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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. mug — a face
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. charge — in control
  5. charge — a price
  6. spell — letters
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. scale — in music
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. scale — size or range
  15. mug — a cup
  16. plane — a tool
  17. spell — magic
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. mug — to rob
  22. spell — a short time
  23. patient — calm and waiting
  24. charge — electricity

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