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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: net · charge · safe · cap · wound · saw · pass · suit

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. cap — a lid
  4. charge — electricity
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. net — for catching
  7. saw — the tool
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. pass — a permit
  10. net — in sport
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. wound — an injury
  14. saw — the tool
  15. suit — clothes
  16. wound — an injury
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. suit — in cards
  19. net — after costs
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. charge — in control
  22. cap — of ice
  23. suit — to fit
  24. cap — a hat

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