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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: rock · march · cold · ruler · charge · leaves · content · suit

  1. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  12. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  13. The water is too ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cold — an illness
  2. rock — music
  3. march — the month
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. suit — in cards
  6. cold — the Cold War
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. march — the month
  10. rock — a stone
  11. content — videos and posts
  12. content — the amount
  13. cold — not warm
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. suit — clothes
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. march — music
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. charge — in control
  21. suit — to fit
  22. charge — electricity
  23. content — happy
  24. charge — a price

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