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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. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — help
  2. charge — in control
  3. shower — rain
  4. deal — to handle
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. hand — in cards
  7. shower — to wash
  8. charge — electricity
  9. current — happening now
  10. season — in sport
  11. bore — to drill
  12. current — electric
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. stand — to bear
  15. shower — a meteor shower
  16. bore — to tire
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. charge — a price
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. current — of water
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. season — of the year

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