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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.

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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: pass · charge · scale · pitcher · can · leaves · straw · ball

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. charge — in control
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. can — a tin
  8. can — to be able to
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. pass — a permit
  13. charge — a price
  14. ball — a dance
  15. straw — dry grass
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. charge — electricity
  18. can — a tin
  19. straw — to clutch at straws
  20. scale — in music
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. ball — a great time
  24. scale — size or range

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