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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. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. charge — electricity
  3. mark — a trace
  4. can — to be able to
  5. wound — an injury
  6. rest — what's left
  7. can — a tin
  8. cue — for pool
  9. wound — an injury
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. rest — what's left
  12. cue — a hint
  13. charge — a price
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. rest — a break
  17. mate — a friend
  18. mark — a grade
  19. mate — to breed
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. can — a tin
  22. cue — a signal
  23. charge — in control
  24. mate — a partner

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