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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: jam · stick · leaves · ground · toast · season · charge · bat

  1. There's no middle ________________.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  18. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — a position
  2. ground — the earth
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. charge — in control
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. bat — for baseball
  11. toast — bread
  12. ground — crushed
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. bat — the animal
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. stick — to attach or keep to
  18. bat — in an idiom
  19. charge — a price
  20. season — of the year
  21. charge — electricity
  22. season — in sport
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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