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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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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: cap · jam · mug · rush · fine · pit · charge · lean

  1. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — of ice
  2. rush — hurry
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. charge — electricity
  5. lean — to bend
  6. fine — all right
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. pit — a hole
  10. mug — a face
  11. mug — a cup
  12. charge — a price
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. cap — a hat
  16. pit — in a race
  17. mug — to rob
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. charge — in control
  20. cap — a lid
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. fine — high quality
  24. lean — thin

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