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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. mate — to breed
  3. charge — a price
  4. key — for a lock
  5. mate — a friend
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. capital — money
  9. key — the most important part
  10. charge — electricity
  11. can — a tin
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. capital — a big letter
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. mate — a partner
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. capital — a city
  18. key — in music
  19. can — a tin
  20. toast — bread
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. can — to be able to
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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