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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: sharp · mark · cabinet · toast · staff · rush · racket · charge

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. sharp — clever
  4. staff — a stick
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. mark — a grade
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. charge — in control
  11. mark — a trace
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. toast — bread
  14. rush — hurry
  15. staff — employees
  16. staff — employees
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. charge — electricity
  23. charge — a price
  24. racket — for tennis

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