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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
468
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: mine · rock · coach · pit · bore · present · mark · charge

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. pit — a hole
  4. pit — in a race
  5. bore — to tire
  6. rock — music
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. charge — electricity
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. bore — to drill
  11. mark — a grade
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. mark — a trace
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. charge — a price
  17. mine — for digging
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. present — there
  20. present — a gift
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. rock — a stone
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. present — the time now

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