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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 116 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 took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. charge — a price
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. can — a tin
  5. face — to point toward
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. board — a committee
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. net — after costs
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. can — to be able to
  12. net — in sport
  13. can — a tin
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. face — to confront
  17. board — to get on
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. charge — electricity
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. charge — in control
  23. snap — to click
  24. face — part of the head

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