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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: mug · coach · vault · wound · charge · foot · kid · leaves

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. charge — electricity
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. wound — an injury
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. kid — child
  8. vault — a safe
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. mug — to rob
  11. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. kid — to tease
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. mug — a face
  18. vault — in gymnastics
  19. charge — a price
  20. foot — a measure
  21. mug — a cup
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. wound — an injury
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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