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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
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: leaves · bay · cabinet · pitch · charge · land · toast · bass

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. pitch — completely
  5. bass — the fish
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. charge — a price
  9. charge — in control
  10. bass — low music
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. land — to come down
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. land — a country
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. land — ground
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. charge — electricity
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. toast — bread

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