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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. season — of the year
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. charge — electricity
  9. season — in sport
  10. charge — a price
  11. bass — low music
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. key — the most important part
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. key — in music
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. bass — the fish
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. key — for a lock

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