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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: toast · fine · charge · cabinet · jam · kid · pitcher · file

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  24. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. fine — all right
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. kid — child
  7. fine — high quality
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. charge — electricity
  11. file — a document
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. toast — bread
  17. file — a line of people
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. charge — a price
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. file — a tool
  23. kid — to tease
  24. kid — young goat (kid gloves)

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