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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: leaves · hide · court · chair · nail · cue · rush · charge

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  8. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. cue — for pool
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. cue — a hint
  6. charge — a price
  7. court — of a king
  8. chair — a professorship
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. chair — to sit on
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. charge — electricity
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. chair — a leader
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. court — for sport
  17. court — of law
  18. rush — hurry
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. charge — in control
  23. cue — a signal
  24. nail — on a finger

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