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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. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. drill — a practice
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. rock — a stone
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. drill — the tool
  11. charge — electricity
  12. pound — a weight
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. pop — soda
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. charge — in control
  19. drill — army training
  20. pop — to visit
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. rock — music
  23. pop — music
  24. pound — to hit hard

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