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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
468
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: leaves · deal · cell · rush · object · cap · charge · face

  1. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. He was locked up in a ________________.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. cap — a hat
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. charge — a price
  5. cap — a lid
  6. object — a thing
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. deal — to handle
  9. face — to point toward
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. charge — in control
  12. cell — in biology
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. cell — a phone
  16. charge — electricity
  17. face — part of the head
  18. face — to confront
  19. rush — hurry
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. object — an aim
  22. cell — in a prison
  23. cap — of ice
  24. deal — an agreement

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