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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 116 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
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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: charge · pop · fan · cabinet · mug · fine · pitch · net

  1. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. mug — a cup
  3. net — in sport
  4. fine — high quality
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. net — after costs
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. charge — in control
  10. pop — to visit
  11. pitch — completely
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. net — for catching
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. pop — soda
  16. mug — a face
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. fine — all right
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. pop — music
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. charge — electricity
  23. charge — a price
  24. mug — to rob

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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