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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: season · mug · lie · charge · court · cabinet · bear · ruler

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. mug — a cup
  5. bear — the animal
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. mug — a face
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. charge — a price
  12. season — of the year
  13. charge — electricity
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. court — of law
  16. court — for sport
  17. season — in sport
  18. mug — to rob
  19. bear — the animal
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. court — of a king
  22. charge — in control
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. season — to add flavour

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