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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 120 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: chest · mark · face · charge · board · craft · safe · suit

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. charge — in control
  3. chest — of your body
  4. suit — clothes
  5. suit — in cards
  6. craft — a skill
  7. mark — a trace
  8. charge — electricity
  9. mark — a grade
  10. suit — to fit
  11. face — to point toward
  12. chest — a box
  13. board — to get on
  14. face — part of the head
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. board — a committee
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. charge — a price
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. face — to confront
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. craft — boats
  24. chest — of your body

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