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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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. bound — tied together
  3. charge — a price
  4. charge — electricity
  5. suit — clothes
  6. kid — to tease
  7. can — a tin
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. kid — child
  10. can — to be able to
  11. suit — to fit
  12. staff — employees
  13. staff — a stick
  14. bound — obliged
  15. can — a tin
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. charge — in control
  18. staff — employees
  19. bound — certain
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. rash — hasty
  22. rash — a series
  23. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  24. suit — in cards

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