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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. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Have you settled on a ________________?
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. cap — of ice
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. key — for a lock
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. cap — a lid
  7. degree — from a university
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. date — the fruit
  13. degree — an amount
  14. key — in music
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. pass — a permit
  17. key — the most important part
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. degree — temperature
  22. charge — in control
  23. charge — electricity
  24. cap — a hat

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