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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. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. He was locked up in a ________________.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — a phone
  2. net — in sport
  3. cell — in a prison
  4. charge — in control
  5. cell — in biology
  6. pit — a hole
  7. net — for catching
  8. charge — electricity
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. bass — low music
  11. bass — the fish
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. rest — what's left
  14. rest — a break
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. net — after costs
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. pit — in a race
  20. charge — a price
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. rest — what's left
  24. lash — to lash out

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