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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.

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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: wave · charge · cabinet · roll · march · mate · deal · stand

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. charge — a price
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. stand — to bear
  8. march — the month
  9. mate — a partner
  10. march — the month
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. mate — a friend
  13. roll — a list
  14. deal — to handle
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. roll — a cake
  19. march — music
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. charge — electricity
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. mate — to breed
  24. stand — for spectators

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