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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. lie — to recline
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. ground — crushed
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. net — after costs
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. ground — a position
  13. net — in sport
  14. tube — the underground
  15. tube — a container
  16. charge — electricity
  17. net — for catching
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. toast — bread
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. charge — a price
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. ground — the earth
  24. safe — out of danger

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