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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.

Words on the sheet
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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. can — to be able to
  3. ball — a great time
  4. ball — a dance
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. can — a tin
  9. root — of a plant
  10. root — of a word
  11. swing — in golf
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. lie — to recline
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. root — the cause
  16. swing — to play on
  17. charge — electricity
  18. swing — music
  19. charge — a price
  20. fork — to eat with
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. can — a tin
  24. fork — in a road

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