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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. mate — a friend
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. suit — to fit
  5. mate — a partner
  6. game — wild animals
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. game — a kind of play
  9. suit — in cards
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. last — final
  13. mug — a face
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. charge — a price
  16. mug — to rob
  17. mug — a cup
  18. last — to go on
  19. mate — to breed
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. game — a match
  22. last — finally
  23. charge — electricity
  24. suit — clothes

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