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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. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. charge — in control
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. staff — a stick
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. staff — employees
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. spell — magic
  10. spell — letters
  11. staff — employees
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. spell — a short time
  14. charge — electricity
  15. current — electric
  16. current — happening now
  17. charge — a price
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. perch — the fish
  21. deal — to handle
  22. current — of water
  23. rush — hurry
  24. racket — for tennis

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