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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: board · charge · rush · toast · bowl · net · wax · mouse

  1. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. net — after costs
  3. board — to get on
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. charge — in control
  7. charge — a price
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. wax — to grow
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. net — for catching
  12. rush — hurry
  13. net — in sport
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. charge — electricity
  21. board — a committee
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. bowl — a football final

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