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

  1. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. can — to be able to
  3. deal — to handle
  4. can — a tin
  5. face — part of the head
  6. ball — a great time
  7. mine — for digging
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. can — a tin
  12. charge — in control
  13. face — to point toward
  14. mug — to rob
  15. mug — a cup
  16. face — to confront
  17. ball — a dance
  18. mug — a face
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. charge — electricity
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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