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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: foot · mug · charge · scale · sharp · press · game · ground

  1. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  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. game — a kind of play
  2. ground — crushed
  3. mug — a face
  4. press — to push
  5. mug — to rob
  6. press — newspapers
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. game — wild animals
  10. scale — size or range
  11. press — a publisher
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. foot — a measure
  15. scale — in music
  16. charge — in control
  17. ground — a position
  18. charge — electricity
  19. game — a match
  20. ground — the earth
  21. charge — a price
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. mug — a cup
  24. sharp — clever

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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