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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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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: fine · pass · trunk · charge · net · face · deal · wound

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. net — for catching
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. wound — an injury
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. wound — an injury
  8. fine — high quality
  9. pass — a permit
  10. fine — all right
  11. charge — in control
  12. face — to point toward
  13. deal — to handle
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. face — part of the head
  17. charge — electricity
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. face — to confront
  21. charge — a price
  22. net — after costs
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. net — in sport

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