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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. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. can — a tin
  3. ball — a great time
  4. charge — a price
  5. drill — the tool
  6. season — of the year
  7. toast — bread
  8. cue — a signal
  9. charge — electricity
  10. can — to be able to
  11. ball — a dance
  12. drill — a practice
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. charge — in control
  16. can — a tin
  17. drill — army training
  18. cue — for pool
  19. rule — a law
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. rule — government
  22. season — in sport
  23. cue — a hint
  24. rule — to rule out

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