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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. pound — for dogs
  3. sharp — clever
  4. charge — in control
  5. charge — electricity
  6. mug — a cup
  7. charge — a price
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. pound — to hit hard
  11. snap — to click
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. rush — hurry
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. mug — to rob
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. pound — a weight
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. wave — with your hand

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