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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: spell · scale · sharp · press · charge · cap · drill · foot

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. press — newspapers
  4. spell — letters
  5. foot — a measure
  6. charge — electricity
  7. drill — a practice
  8. scale — size or range
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. cap — a hat
  13. spell — magic
  14. cap — a lid
  15. drill — army training
  16. scale — in music
  17. press — a publisher
  18. drill — the tool
  19. charge — a price
  20. cap — of ice
  21. press — to push
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. sharp — clever
  24. spell — a short time

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