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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. pass — a permit
  4. mate — a friend
  5. rock — music
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. saw — the tool
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. stem — to come from
  13. charge — electricity
  14. saw — the tool
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. mate — to breed
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. rock — a stone
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. mate — a partner
  22. charge — a price
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. dip — to sink

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