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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. spell — a short time
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. spell — magic
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. vault — a safe
  9. firm — a company
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. bound — certain
  13. firm — steady
  14. charge — electricity
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. bound — tied together
  17. charge — a price
  18. firm — decided
  19. bound — obliged
  20. bark — to shout
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. bark — of a tree
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. spell — letters

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