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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 120 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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. can — to be able to
  3. fine — all right
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. fine — high quality
  6. charge — in control
  7. current — of water
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. charge — electricity
  16. current — happening now
  17. can — a tin
  18. charge — a price
  19. current — electric
  20. rash — hasty
  21. kick — in football
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. kick — a thrill
  24. can — a tin

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