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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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. can — a tin
  4. face — to confront
  5. squash — the sport
  6. squash — to crush
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. stand — to bear
  10. branch — a division
  11. face — to point toward
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. branch — of a bank
  14. face — part of the head
  15. charge — a price
  16. pit — in a race
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. can — a tin
  20. charge — electricity
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. charge — in control
  23. pit — a hole
  24. can — to be able to

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