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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. club — a group
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. saw — the tool
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. stand — to bear
  11. wax — to grow
  12. club — for golf
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. charge — electricity
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. club — for dancing
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. charge — a price
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. saw — the tool

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