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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. rest — what's left
  4. rest — what's left
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. sharp — clever
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. can — a tin
  11. rest — a break
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. saw — the tool
  14. board — a committee
  15. can — a tin
  16. charge — electricity
  17. hand — help
  18. can — to be able to
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. charge — in control
  21. charge — a price
  22. hand — in cards
  23. snap — to click
  24. board — to get on

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