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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. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  19. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. bass — the fish
  5. file — a document
  6. charge — a price
  7. date — the fruit
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. bass — low music
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. charge — electricity
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. file — a line of people
  19. file — a tool
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. toast — bread
  22. cue — a signal
  23. cue — a hint
  24. cue — for pool

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