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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: can · rush · pass · board · charge · fan · ball · kid

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  19. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. can — a tin
  4. can — a tin
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. can — to be able to
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. board — a committee
  11. pass — a permit
  12. ball — a dance
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. board — to get on
  16. ball — a great time
  17. rush — hurry
  18. kid — to tease
  19. kid — child
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. charge — in control
  24. charge — electricity

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