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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. net — in sport
  3. can — a tin
  4. key — the most important part
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. charge — in control
  7. fine — all right
  8. key — in music
  9. can — a tin
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. net — for catching
  12. board — to get on
  13. net — after costs
  14. can — to be able to
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. saw — the tool
  17. fine — high quality
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. board — a committee
  20. charge — electricity
  21. charge — a price
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. key — for a lock
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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