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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: mate · sharp · pass · spring · game · charge · pit · cabinet

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. That was a fun ________________.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. charge — in control
  4. spring — of water
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. pit — in a race
  7. game — wild animals
  8. spring — the season
  9. pit — a hole
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. spring — a coil
  13. pass — a permit
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. game — a match
  16. mate — a partner
  17. charge — electricity
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. charge — a price
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. mate — a friend
  24. sharp — clever

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