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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mine — for digging
  3. charge — electricity
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. field — a subject
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. mark — a grade
  8. pass — a permit
  9. stand — to bear
  10. charge — a price
  11. stock — goods
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. field — farmland
  17. mark — a trace
  18. stock — shares
  19. field — for sport
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. charge — in control

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