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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. net — in sport
  3. charge — electricity
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. charge — in control
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. net — after costs
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. mine — for digging
  13. fine — high quality
  14. pop — to visit
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. pop — soda
  18. net — for catching
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. fine — all right
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. charge — a price
  24. wave — with your hand

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