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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. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. charge — in control
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. lean — thin
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. lean — to bend
  8. pass — a permit
  9. charge — electricity
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. deal — to handle
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. drill — a practice
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. drill — army training
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. charge — a price
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. drill — the tool

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