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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.

Make a worksheet

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: charge · kick · hand · leaves · fall · safe · season · cue

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. hand — in cards
  4. fall — to drop
  5. hand — help
  6. season — in sport
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. fall — the season
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. cue — a hint
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. cue — a signal
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. kick — in football
  17. charge — in control
  18. charge — electricity
  19. kick — with a leg
  20. season — of the year
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. charge — a price
  24. fall — to drop

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