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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 116 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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. spell — letters
  3. spring — a coil
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. object — an aim
  7. firm — decided
  8. spell — a short time
  9. charge — a price
  10. spell — magic
  11. object — a thing
  12. spring — of water
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. object — to protest
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. spring — the season
  19. charge — electricity
  20. firm — steady
  21. firm — a company
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. pitcher — a jug

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