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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. fine — high quality
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. last — finally
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. lie — to recline
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. fine — all right
  10. last — to go on
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. charge — a price
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. charge — electricity
  16. band — a rubber band
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. band — a music group
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. last — final
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. band — a ring
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. wax — to grow

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