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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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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. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  4. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. straw — to clutch at straws
  4. bark — of a tree
  5. rush — hurry
  6. fine — high quality
  7. bark — to shout
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. charge — a price
  10. straw — a straw man
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. straw — dry grass
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. ball — a great time
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. fine — all right
  20. ball — a dance
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. charge — electricity
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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