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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. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. charge — in control
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. face — part of the head
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. dip — to sink
  7. drill — army training
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. face — to confront
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. charge — electricity
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. chair — a professorship
  14. drill — a practice
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. chair — a leader
  17. pit — in a race
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. chair — to sit on
  20. pit — a hole
  21. pass — a permit
  22. drill — the tool
  23. charge — a price
  24. face — to point toward

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