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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.

Make a worksheet

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. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. toast — bread
  7. drill — army training
  8. foot — a measure
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. drill — a practice
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. charge — a price
  19. drill — the tool
  20. rush — hurry
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. charge — electricity
  23. wake — a trail
  24. toast — a drink to someone

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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