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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. pop — soda
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. suit — to fit
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. charge — in control
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. charge — electricity
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. pop — to visit
  18. suit — in cards
  19. charge — a price
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. foot — a measure
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. pop — music

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