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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.

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: drill · suit · charge · press · bass · rash · ground · arm

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Did you ________________ the button?
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. bass — the fish
  3. drill — army training
  4. drill — a practice
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. charge — electricity
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. ground — the earth
  10. press — a publisher
  11. suit — clothes
  12. press — to push
  13. rash — a series
  14. drill — the tool
  15. ground — a position
  16. ground — crushed
  17. press — newspapers
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. rash — hasty
  21. suit — in cards
  22. charge — in control
  23. bass — low music
  24. suit — to fit

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