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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: game · suit · wound · wax · bound · pit · rash · charge

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. wound — an injury
  3. wound — an injury
  4. game — a match
  5. rash — hasty
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. rash — a series
  8. charge — a price
  9. pit — in a race
  10. suit — clothes
  11. bound — certain
  12. game — wild animals
  13. suit — to fit
  14. wax — to grow
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. suit — in cards
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. bound — obliged
  19. charge — electricity
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. pit — a hole
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. bound — tied together
  24. game — a kind of play

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