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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 120 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: present · tube · wake · pitch · mark · lean · arm · charge

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. lean — to bend
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. tube — a container
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. tube — the underground
  7. mark — a trace
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. mark — a grade
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. wake — a trail
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. charge — electricity
  17. pitch — completely
  18. charge — a price
  19. present — a gift
  20. present — the time now
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. lean — thin
  24. present — there

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