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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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. charge — in control
  3. spell — magic
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. stock — a soup base
  6. stock — goods
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. charge — a price
  12. spell — a short time
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. wake — a trail
  15. bore — to drill
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. charge — electricity
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. stand — to bear
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. spell — letters
  24. stock — shares

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