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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.

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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: pop · mate · rush · can · roll · arm · charge · toast

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. mate — to breed
  3. pop — soda
  4. charge — in control
  5. roll — a list
  6. mate — a partner
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. charge — a price
  9. can — a tin
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. roll — a cake
  13. charge — electricity
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. pop — music
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. toast — bread
  21. can — to be able to
  22. pop — to visit
  23. can — a tin
  24. mate — a friend

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