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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. The ball is in your ________________.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. scale — in music
  3. charge — in control
  4. court — of a king
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. charge — electricity
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. scale — size or range
  11. court — for sport
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. bank — of a river
  14. saw — the tool
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. charge — a price
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. bank — for money
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. bank — for money
  21. court — of law
  22. sharp — clever
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. scale — for weighing

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