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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. row — to paddle
  3. net — after costs
  4. net — for catching
  5. charge — electricity
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. land — a country
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. charge — in control
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. tube — the underground
  12. charge — a price
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. net — in sport
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. tube — a container
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. land — to come down
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. land — ground
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. mark — a grade
  24. row — a line

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