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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. perch — the fish
  3. charge — in control
  4. ground — a position
  5. mug — to rob
  6. ground — the earth
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. mug — a face
  11. charge — electricity
  12. present — there
  13. present — a gift
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. present — the time now
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. can — a tin
  19. mug — a cup
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. pass — a permit
  22. charge — a price
  23. can — to be able to
  24. ground — crushed

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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