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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: net · charge · mug · season · face · stem · mark · bowl

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. stem — to come from
  4. face — to point toward
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. net — in sport
  7. net — for catching
  8. season — in sport
  9. net — after costs
  10. mug — a cup
  11. mug — a face
  12. mark — a grade
  13. face — to confront
  14. face — part of the head
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. charge — electricity
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. mug — to rob
  19. mark — a trace
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. season — of the year
  24. charge — a price

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