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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 120 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: ball · rest · bowl · stand · mate · charge · safe · lash

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. charge — in control
  3. ball — a great time
  4. charge — electricity
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. mate — a partner
  12. mate — to breed
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. stand — to bear
  15. ball — a dance
  16. mate — a friend
  17. rest — what's left
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. charge — a price
  20. rest — a break
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. rest — what's left
  24. stand — for spectators

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