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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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. charge — a price
  4. bore — to drill
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. charge — electricity
  7. fine — high quality
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. bound — certain
  10. snap — to click
  11. bound — obliged
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. charge — in control
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. bound — tied together
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. bore — to tire
  23. pass — a permit
  24. fine — all right

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