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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: ball · saw · press · mouse · charge · toast · mug · pit

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. charge — electricity
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. toast — bread
  5. saw — the tool
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. mug — a cup
  8. ball — a dance
  9. charge — a price
  10. saw — the tool
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. mug — a face
  13. press — newspapers
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. mug — to rob
  16. press — a publisher
  17. pit — a hole
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. charge — in control
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. pit — in a race
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. press — to push

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