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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: row · toast · kick · mate · charge · ground · nail · safe

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  12. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. There's no middle ________________.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. row — to paddle
  3. mate — to breed
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. charge — in control
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. ground — crushed
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. row — a quarrel
  12. kick — with a leg
  13. ground — the earth
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. charge — a price
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. mate — a partner
  18. kick — in football
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. toast — bread
  22. mate — a friend
  23. ground — a position
  24. row — a line

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