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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  24. The ball is in your ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. fine — high quality
  3. mug — a face
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. toast — bread
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. charge — in control
  8. bass — low music
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. mug — a cup
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. fine — all right
  14. kick — in football
  15. charge — a price
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. bass — the fish
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. court — of law
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. court — of a king
  22. charge — electricity
  23. kick — with a leg
  24. court — for sport

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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