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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 · cabinet · sharp · rush · firm · safe · suit · leaves

  1. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — electricity
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. firm — a company
  6. suit — in cards
  7. charge — a price
  8. charge — in control
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. sharp — clever
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. suit — clothes
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. rush — hurry
  16. suit — to fit
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. firm — steady
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. firm — decided

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