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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: bay · wake · safe · mouse · charge · rush · press · club

  1. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. charge — a price
  6. press — to push
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. rush — hurry
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. club — for golf
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. press — newspapers
  15. club — a group
  16. charge — in control
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. wake — a trail
  19. club — for dancing
  20. charge — electricity
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. press — a publisher
  24. safe — out of danger

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