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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  12. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. charge — electricity
  4. season — in sport
  5. season — of the year
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. object — an aim
  8. mug — to rob
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. mug — a face
  11. kick — a thrill
  12. kick — in football
  13. pass — a permit
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. sharp — clever
  17. charge — a price
  18. object — a thing
  19. mug — a cup
  20. lie — to recline
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. object — to protest
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. charge — in control

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