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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. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. He was locked up in a ________________.
  23. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  24. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. charge — a price
  3. rush — hurry
  4. net — for catching
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. root — the cause
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. root — of a plant
  11. pass — a permit
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. lie — to recline
  14. root — of a word
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. charge — electricity
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. charge — in control
  21. net — after costs
  22. cell — in a prison
  23. cell — a phone
  24. cell — in biology

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