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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. charge — in control
  4. present — the time now
  5. net — in sport
  6. present — a gift
  7. net — after costs
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. stand — to bear
  10. net — for catching
  11. charge — electricity
  12. saw — the tool
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. charge — a price
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. present — there
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. saw — the tool
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. foot — a measure

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