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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. charge — a price
  3. pit — in a race
  4. stock — shares
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. pit — a hole
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. stock — goods
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. shower — to wash
  13. charge — electricity
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. dip — to sink
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. shower — rain
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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