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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. suit — clothes
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. charge — electricity
  7. rest — a break
  8. mark — a grade
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. rest — what's left
  13. suit — in cards
  14. mark — a trace
  15. rest — what's left
  16. pass — a permit
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. branch — a division
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. charge — a price
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. charge — in control
  24. date — the fruit

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