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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. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. file — a line of people
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. file — a document
  5. pop — music
  6. pop — soda
  7. pop — to visit
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. charge — electricity
  10. mate — to breed
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. lean — thin
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. file — a tool
  15. lean — to bend
  16. mate — a friend
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. mate — a partner
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. charge — a price
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. wake — a trail

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