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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. charge — a price
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. charge — electricity
  5. deal — to handle
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. mark — a grade
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. march — the month
  10. charge — in control
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. row — to paddle
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. row — a line
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. march — the month
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. rock — music
  22. march — music
  23. mark — a trace
  24. deal — an agreement

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