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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: ground · jam · sharp · perch · wax · charge · pop · mug

  1. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. pop — to visit
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. mug — to rob
  5. ground — the earth
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. charge — a price
  9. perch — the fish
  10. sharp — clever
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. pop — music
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. charge — in control
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. pop — soda
  18. wax — to grow
  19. mug — a face
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. ground — a position
  22. charge — electricity
  23. mug — a cup
  24. ground — crushed

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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