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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. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. charge — a price
  3. swing — music
  4. firm — a company
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. swing — to play on
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. saw — the tool
  10. firm — decided
  11. saw — the tool
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. rest — what's left
  14. foot — a measure
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. charge — in control
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. firm — steady
  22. charge — electricity
  23. rest — a break
  24. rest — what's left

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