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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 116 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. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. rock — music
  3. mug — a face
  4. mug — a cup
  5. charge — a price
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. press — newspapers
  9. charge — in control
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. press — to push
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. press — a publisher
  20. mug — to rob
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. perch — the fish
  23. rock — a stone
  24. trunk — of a tree

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