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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 120 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. Have you found your soul ________________?
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a partner
  2. deal — to handle
  3. mate — a friend
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. charge — in control
  6. rash — a series
  7. charge — electricity
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. rash — hasty
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. prune — to trim
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. charge — a price
  19. foot — a measure
  20. prune — to trim
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. bark — to shout
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. mate — to breed

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