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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 got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. hand — in cards
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. cue — a signal
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. cue — for pool
  7. charge — electricity
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. march — the month
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. march — music
  14. march — the month
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. bear — the animal
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. hand — help
  20. cue — a hint
  21. charge — a price
  22. pitch — completely
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. bear — the animal

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