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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. net — for catching
  4. mark — a grade
  5. band — a music group
  6. press — to push
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. mark — a trace
  10. staff — a stick
  11. press — newspapers
  12. charge — a price
  13. net — after costs
  14. charge — electricity
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. band — a ring
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. press — a publisher
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. staff — employees
  22. staff — employees
  23. net — in sport
  24. mark — to pay attention

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