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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 116 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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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: charge · racket · rush · face · chip · mug · nail · leaves

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. charge — in control
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. face — to confront
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. charge — a price
  7. mug — to rob
  8. mug — a face
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. chip — for betting
  13. mug — a cup
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. rush — hurry
  16. charge — electricity
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. face — part of the head
  19. face — to point toward
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. chip — to eat
  24. rush — to hurry

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