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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 tickets are free of ________________.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  8. There's no middle ________________.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  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. charge — a price
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. perch — the fish
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. ground — crushed
  6. mate — a friend
  7. pound — to hit hard
  8. ground — a position
  9. mug — a cup
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. mug — to rob
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. mate — a partner
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. mate — to breed
  17. ground — the earth
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. pound — a weight
  20. mug — a face
  21. charge — electricity
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. leaves — lets stay
  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