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

Word bank: saw · rush · nail · swing · pit · charge · wake · fine

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. David sat on the ________________.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. swing — in golf
  3. swing — music
  4. charge — a price
  5. charge — electricity
  6. swing — to play on
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. fine — high quality
  9. fine — all right
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. saw — the tool
  12. wake — a trail
  13. pit — a hole
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. saw — the tool
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. rush — hurry
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. charge — in control

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