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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. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. charge — in control
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. charge — electricity
  10. saw — the tool
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. swing — in golf
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. saw — the tool
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. wax — to grow
  19. charge — a price
  20. swing — music
  21. swing — to play on
  22. chip — for betting
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. chip — to eat

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