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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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468
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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. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. charge — a price
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. key — the most important part
  6. mug — to rob
  7. bass — low music
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. bass — the fish
  10. pit — in a race
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. perch — the fish
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. pit — a hole
  17. charge — electricity
  18. mug — a cup
  19. mug — a face
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. key — in music
  24. key — for a lock

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