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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. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  17. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. David sat on the ________________.
  20. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. drill — army training
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. chest — a box
  5. charge — a price
  6. key — in music
  7. capital — money
  8. charge — in control
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. capital — a city
  12. charge — electricity
  13. drill — the tool
  14. chest — of your body
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. chest — of your body
  17. swing — in golf
  18. key — for a lock
  19. swing — to play on
  20. capital — a big letter
  21. drill — a practice
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. key — the most important part

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