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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: board · mug · mine · pitch · charge · snap · foot · tube

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. tube — the underground
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. board — to get on
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. snap — to snap out of it
  9. mug — a cup
  10. charge — a price
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. mug — a face
  13. charge — in control
  14. charge — electricity
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. mine — for digging
  17. board — a committee
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. snap — to click
  21. mug — to rob
  22. foot — a measure
  23. tube — a container
  24. snap — to speak sharply

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