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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.

Make a worksheet

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: season · rock · squash · snap · leaves · charge · bay · net

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. net — for catching
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. charge — electricity
  5. snap — to click
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. squash — to crush
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. season — of the year
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. rock — music
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. charge — a price
  14. season — in sport
  15. net — in sport
  16. squash — the sport
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. charge — in control
  20. net — after costs
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. squash — the vegetable

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