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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. mug — a face
  5. tube — a container
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. file — a tool
  8. mug — to rob
  9. board — a committee
  10. board — to get on
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. rock — music
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. tube — the underground
  16. mug — a cup
  17. file — a document
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. rock — a stone
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. charge — electricity
  22. perch — the fish
  23. file — a line of people
  24. charge — a price

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