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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.

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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: mouse · rock · charge · staff · season · prune · mark · court

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. The ball is in your ________________.
  23. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  24. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. staff — employees
  7. season — in sport
  8. prune — to trim
  9. mark — a trace
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. staff — employees
  12. season — of the year
  13. staff — a stick
  14. mark — a grade
  15. charge — a price
  16. charge — electricity
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. rock — music
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. rock — a stone
  21. prune — to trim
  22. court — for sport
  23. court — of law
  24. court — of a king

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