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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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. charge — electricity
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. mug — a cup
  5. suit — in cards
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. charge — a price
  8. pitch — completely
  9. mug — to rob
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. charge — in control
  13. suit — to fit
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. wound — an injury
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. drill — the tool
  20. mug — a face
  21. wound — an injury
  22. drill — a practice
  23. perch — the fish
  24. suit — clothes

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