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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.

Make a worksheet

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: stand · charge · wound · lie · fine · press · perch · mine

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. perch — the fish
  3. charge — in control
  4. stand — to bear
  5. mine — for digging
  6. lie — to recline
  7. fine — all right
  8. press — newspapers
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. wound — an injury
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. fine — high quality
  13. charge — electricity
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. press — to push
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. press — a publisher
  24. wound — an injury

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