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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 tickets are free of ________________.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. mug — a face
  5. bound — tied together
  6. mug — a cup
  7. hand — in cards
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. charge — in control
  10. charge — electricity
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. bound — obliged
  15. mug — to rob
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. bound — certain
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. hand — help

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