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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. stand — to bear
  3. charge — a price
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. rock — music
  6. charge — in control
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. scale — in music
  10. dip — to sink
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. charge — electricity
  14. season — of the year
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. rock — a stone
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. season — in sport
  24. hide — animal skin

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