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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. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. mug — a cup
  3. charge — in control
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. can — a tin
  7. mug — to rob
  8. pitch — completely
  9. clip — a video
  10. can — a tin
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. rash — a series
  13. mug — a face
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. can — to be able to
  17. charge — a price
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. clip — to cut
  22. charge — electricity
  23. clip — for paper
  24. rash — hasty

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