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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. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. charge — in control
  3. rest — what's left
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. charge — a price
  6. bound — obliged
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. bulb — for light
  10. board — a committee
  11. deal — to handle
  12. rest — a break
  13. rush — hurry
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. charge — electricity
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. bound — tied together
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. bound — certain
  21. bulb — for light
  22. board — to get on
  23. rest — what's left
  24. toast — bread

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