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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 116 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 had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. False peace will not ________________.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. drill — a practice
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. net — in sport
  7. last — final
  8. mark — a trace
  9. last — finally
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. net — for catching
  12. net — after costs
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. drill — army training
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. last — to go on
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. mark — a grade
  19. charge — electricity
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. drill — the tool
  22. rush — hurry
  23. charge — a price
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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