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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. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. land — ground
  2. board — to get on
  3. charge — a price
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. rest — a break
  7. rest — what's left
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. land — to come down
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. board — a committee
  12. charge — electricity
  13. press — newspapers
  14. press — a publisher
  15. deal — to handle
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. rest — what's left
  19. land — a country
  20. charge — in control
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. press — to push
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. deal — a big deal

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