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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. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to snap out of it
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. snap — to click
  4. charge — in control
  5. fine — all right
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. key — for a lock
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. rock — a stone
  12. rock — music
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. charge — a price
  15. key — the most important part
  16. fine — high quality
  17. branch — of a tree
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. charge — electricity
  21. branch — a division
  22. key — in music
  23. pitch — completely
  24. rush — hurry

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