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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. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. fine — all right
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. can — to be able to
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. charge — a price
  8. fine — high quality
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. bass — the fish
  11. vault — a safe
  12. bass — low music
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. charge — in control
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. can — a tin
  24. can — a tin

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