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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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  12. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. press — newspapers
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. plane — a tool
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. wind — moving air
  8. march — music
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. charge — a price
  11. wind — moving air
  12. march — the month
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. scale — size or range
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. wind — to turn a key
  17. press — a publisher
  18. charge — electricity
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. march — the month
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. toast — bread
  23. press — to push
  24. scale — in 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