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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: charge · ruler · season · lean · rush · present · face · stock

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. lean — to bend
  3. charge — electricity
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. charge — in control
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. lean — thin
  10. stock — goods
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. season — in sport
  13. rush — hurry
  14. present — there
  15. season — of the year
  16. stock — shares
  17. face — to confront
  18. face — to point toward
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. face — part of the head
  21. charge — a price
  22. present — the time now
  23. present — a gift
  24. season — to add flavour

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