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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: wax · foot · drill · mate · game · rest · craft · charge

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. mate — to breed
  3. charge — electricity
  4. foot — a measure
  5. charge — in control
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. drill — a practice
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. game — wild animals
  10. drill — the tool
  11. rest — what's left
  12. wax — to grow
  13. game — a match
  14. craft — a handicraft
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. mate — a partner
  17. craft — a skill
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. craft — boats
  20. drill — army training
  21. rest — a break
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. rest — what's left
  24. mate — a friend

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