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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. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  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. wake — before a funeral
  2. charge — in control
  3. charge — a price
  4. rush — hurry
  5. suit — to fit
  6. pop — music
  7. charge — electricity
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. pop — to visit
  10. pitch — completely
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. can — to be able to
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. suit — clothes
  17. can — a tin
  18. suit — in cards
  19. can — a tin
  20. pop — soda
  21. pass — a permit
  22. wake — a trail
  23. pitch — a sports field
  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