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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: charge · stand · rash · net · mug · fork · staff · clip

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  5. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  6. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. rash — a series
  3. staff — employees
  4. clip — a video
  5. clip — to cut
  6. clip — for paper
  7. charge — a price
  8. staff — employees
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. mug — a cup
  11. mug — to rob
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. staff — a stick
  14. net — in sport
  15. rash — hasty
  16. fork — a garden tool
  17. charge — in control
  18. mug — a face
  19. net — for catching
  20. net — after costs
  21. stand — to bear
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. charge — electricity

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