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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 120 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: nail · foot · bass · dip · mine · suit · charge · sharp

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  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. charge — a price
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. bass — the fish
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. sharp — clever
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. bass — low music
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. suit — clothes
  13. foot — a measure
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. dip — to sink
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. charge — electricity
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. suit — to fit
  22. mine — for digging
  23. suit — in cards
  24. charge — in control

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