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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. suit — in cards
  3. fall — the season
  4. roll — a list
  5. charge — electricity
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. saw — the tool
  10. suit — to fit
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. fall — to drop
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. fall — to drop
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. charge — in control
  17. saw — the tool
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. charge — a price
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. roll — a cake
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. mouse — the animal

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