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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. The ball is in your ________________.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. charge — electricity
  3. rock — music
  4. toast — bread
  5. bank — for money
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. bank — of a river
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. charge — a price
  10. court — of a king
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. wax — to grow
  15. bank — for money
  16. court — of law
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. pass — a permit
  20. stand — to bear
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. court — for sport
  24. charge — in control

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