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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.

Make a worksheet

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. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. face — part of the head
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. rest — a break
  6. bass — the fish
  7. bass — low music
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. season — in sport
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. wake — a trail
  15. charge — a price
  16. rest — what's left
  17. season — of the year
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. face — to point toward
  21. rest — what's left
  22. face — to confront
  23. sharp — clever
  24. charge — electricity

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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