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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. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. charge — in control
  4. club — for golf
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. branch — a division
  7. mine — for digging
  8. firm — decided
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. club — for dancing
  11. rush — hurry
  12. charge — electricity
  13. firm — a company
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. firm — steady
  19. can — a tin
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. can — to be able to
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. can — a tin
  24. club — a group

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