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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 120 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: staff · net · lie · fan · craft · charge · cue · pitch

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. cue — for pool
  3. net — in sport
  4. staff — employees
  5. cue — a hint
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. cue — a signal
  8. pitch — completely
  9. net — after costs
  10. charge — a price
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. craft — boats
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. charge — electricity
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. lie — to recline
  20. staff — employees
  21. craft — a skill
  22. staff — a stick
  23. net — for catching
  24. fan — a supporter

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