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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. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. When are we going to ________________?
  7. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. capital — money
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. bank — of a river
  4. deal — to handle
  5. bank — for money
  6. land — to come down
  7. capital — a big letter
  8. land — a country
  9. sharp — clever
  10. charge — electricity
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. land — ground
  13. mate — to breed
  14. charge — a price
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. mate — a friend
  17. charge — in control
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. capital — a city
  20. bank — for money
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. mate — a partner

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