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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: cue · stand · charge · temple · ground · mate · scale · rush

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. rush — hurry
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. scale — size or range
  5. cue — a hint
  6. cue — a signal
  7. charge — in control
  8. ground — the earth
  9. mate — to breed
  10. ground — a position
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. stand — to bear
  13. scale — in music
  14. mate — a friend
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. cue — for pool
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. mate — a partner
  23. ground — crushed
  24. charge — electricity

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