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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 120 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. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. charge — electricity
  3. rest — what's left
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. face — to point toward
  6. bass — low music
  7. charge — a price
  8. rest — a break
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. rest — what's left
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. face — part of the head
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. mate — to breed
  15. charge — in control
  16. fall — to drop
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. face — to confront
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. mate — a friend
  22. fall — to drop
  23. mate — a partner
  24. bass — the fish

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