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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: charge · leaves · row · drill · dip · coach · hide · race

  1. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. charge — electricity
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. charge — a price
  9. drill — a practice
  10. drill — army training
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. race — a contest
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. dip — to sink
  16. charge — in control
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. race — the arms race
  19. drill — the tool
  20. row — to paddle
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. race — humankind
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. row — a line

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