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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 120 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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. When are we going to ________________?
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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. suit — clothes
  4. can — a tin
  5. land — a country
  6. can — a tin
  7. suit — in cards
  8. charge — electricity
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. straw — dry grass
  12. mug — a cup
  13. fine — high quality
  14. land — to come down
  15. mug — to rob
  16. suit — to fit
  17. straw — to clutch at straws
  18. charge — a price
  19. land — ground
  20. fine — all right
  21. mug — a face
  22. straw — a straw man
  23. wax — to grow
  24. wax — for sculpting

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