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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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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: ruler · pass · saw · rash · pit · kid · board · charge

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. charge — electricity
  3. pit — a hole
  4. board — a committee
  5. pass — a permit
  6. rash — hasty
  7. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. kid — to tease
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. kid — child
  14. saw — the tool
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. charge — a price
  17. charge — in control
  18. saw — the tool
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. pit — in a race
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. board — to get on

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