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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: pitcher · leaves · saw · date · charge · nail · foot · season

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. date — the fruit
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. charge — electricity
  5. charge — in control
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. season — of the year
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. saw — the tool
  18. saw — the tool
  19. foot — a measure
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. season — in sport
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. charge — a price

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