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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: can · field · date · rash · staff · last · charge · suit

  1. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  8. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. field — a subject
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. last — to go on
  4. suit — to fit
  5. can — a tin
  6. charge — a price
  7. field — farmland
  8. last — final
  9. charge — in control
  10. rash — a series
  11. rash — hasty
  12. staff — employees
  13. field — for sport
  14. suit — in cards
  15. last — finally
  16. staff — a stick
  17. suit — clothes
  18. staff — employees
  19. can — a tin
  20. date — the fruit
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. can — to be able to
  23. charge — electricity
  24. date — on the calendar

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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