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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. root — the cause
  3. charge — electricity
  4. root — of a word
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. firm — a company
  7. hand — in cards
  8. file — a tool
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. file — a line of people
  14. key — for a lock
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. firm — decided
  17. file — a document
  18. firm — steady
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. key — the most important part
  21. root — of a plant
  22. charge — a price
  23. charge — in control
  24. hand — help

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