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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 ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. board — to get on
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. charge — electricity
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. charge — in control
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. charge — a price
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. staff — a stick
  13. spell — letters
  14. spell — magic
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. spell — a short time
  19. board — a committee
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. staff — employees
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. staff — employees

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