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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.

Make a worksheet

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: land · rash · perch · sharp · arm · wave · toast · charge

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. charge — in control
  3. rash — a series
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. perch — the fish
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. land — to come down
  10. rash — hasty
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. charge — electricity
  13. toast — bread
  14. charge — a price
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. sharp — clever
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. land — ground
  23. land — a country
  24. sharp — with an edge

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