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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
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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: ball · last · fan · charge · board · hide · rush · can

  1. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. board — to get on
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. rush — hurry
  6. ball — a great time
  7. last — to go on
  8. board — a committee
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. last — finally
  12. can — a tin
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. last — final
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. charge — in control
  19. can — to be able to
  20. charge — electricity
  21. can — a tin
  22. ball — a dance
  23. charge — a price
  24. fan — a supporter

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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