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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
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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: mug · fan · fine · dip · foot · ground · mark · charge

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. foot — a measure
  3. fine — all right
  4. mark — a trace
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. charge — in control
  7. mark — a grade
  8. ground — the earth
  9. charge — electricity
  10. mug — to rob
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. fine — high quality
  14. ground — crushed
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. ground — a position
  17. dip — to sink
  18. mug — a face
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. charge — a price
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. mug — a cup

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