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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. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  22. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. charge — in control
  4. mark — a grade
  5. chair — a leader
  6. fine — all right
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. cap — a hat
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. mark — a trace
  11. cap — of ice
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. charge — a price
  20. charge — electricity
  21. chair — a professorship
  22. chair — to sit on
  23. fine — high quality
  24. sharp — clever

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