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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: rash · rule · net · pit · jam · pass · staff · charge

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. rash — a series
  3. pass — a permit
  4. net — in sport
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. staff — employees
  7. charge — in control
  8. staff — employees
  9. pit — in a race
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. rule — to rule out
  12. net — after costs
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. rash — hasty
  15. charge — a price
  16. rule — a law
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. rule — government
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. pit — a hole
  21. staff — a stick
  22. net — for catching
  23. charge — electricity
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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