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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 120 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: spell · hide · wax · pop · present · charge · can · arm

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. pop — music
  3. pop — to visit
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. can — a tin
  7. pop — soda
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. charge — electricity
  10. spell — magic
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. can — to be able to
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. present — there
  16. can — a tin
  17. present — a gift
  18. wax — to grow
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. spell — letters
  21. charge — a price
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. present — the time now
  24. spell — a short time

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