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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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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: rash · charge · spell · pitcher · date · pass · pit · key

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. key — in music
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. charge — a price
  6. pass — a permit
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. key — for a lock
  10. date — the fruit
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. spell — a short time
  14. spell — magic
  15. rash — hasty
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. charge — electricity
  18. rash — a series
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. pit — in a race
  21. spell — letters
  22. pit — a hole
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. key — the most important part

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