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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: coach · charge · rash · pitcher · lie · arm · fan · cap

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. charge — in control
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. charge — a price
  9. rash — a series
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. lie — to recline
  13. cap — a hat
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. cap — of ice
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. cap — a lid
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. rash — hasty
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  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