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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. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. foot — a measure
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. bass — the fish
  8. bass — low music
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. face — part of the head
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. rock — a stone
  16. face — to confront
  17. charge — a price
  18. face — to point toward
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. rush — hurry
  22. charge — electricity
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. rock — music

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