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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. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. last — final
  2. charge — electricity
  3. pound — a weight
  4. board — a committee
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — to be able to
  7. last — to go on
  8. mug — to rob
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. mug — a face
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. can — a tin
  13. stock — shares
  14. charge — a price
  15. saw — the tool
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. last — finally
  18. mug — a cup
  19. saw — the tool
  20. pound — for dogs
  21. board — to get on
  22. stock — goods
  23. pound — to hit hard
  24. charge — in control

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