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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. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. rest — what's left
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. firm — a company
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. firm — steady
  8. press — a publisher
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. press — newspapers
  12. firm — decided
  13. stand — to bear
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. charge — electricity
  16. rest — a break
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. craft — a skill
  19. craft — boats
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. charge — in control
  23. rest — what's left
  24. press — to push

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