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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: charge · leaves · season · kid · rush · coach · lie · board

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. season — in sport
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. board — to get on
  6. kid — child
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. charge — electricity
  9. kid — to tease
  10. board — a committee
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. charge — a price
  16. charge — in control
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. season — of the year
  22. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  23. lie — to recline
  24. rush — hurry

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