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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. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. swing — music
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. charge — electricity
  6. charge — a price
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. stock — shares
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. bear — the animal
  13. file — a tool
  14. file — a line of people
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. file — a document
  18. swing — in golf
  19. stock — goods
  20. pass — a permit
  21. swing — to play on
  22. bear — the animal
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. charge — in control

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